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Christopher R Bray Esq.

Rheinhardt & Bray PC

Christopher R Bray Esq.

Rheinhardt & Bray PC

Christopher R Bray Esq.

Rheinhardt & Bray PC

Chris focuses his practice in the areas of Medicaid and long-term care planning, elder law, future care planning for persons with disabilities and their families, guardianships, estate planning, estate administration and real estate matters.

After completing his undergraduate education at Syracuse University, Chris received his Juris Doctor from Albany Law School. He was admitted to the New York State Bar and the Federal Bar for the Northern District of New York in 2006. Chris is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He is vice president of the Herkimer County Bar Association and is a member of the Oneida County and City of Rome Bar Associations and the Elder Law Section and Trusts and Estates Section of the New York State Bar Association.

Chris serves on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross of the Mohawk Valley as vice chair. He is a regular speaker for the annual Mitchell Rabbino Decision Making Day Program sponsored by the New York State Bar Association.

Recently, Chris was re-appointed by the New York State Commission on Quality Care and Advocacy for Persons With Disability as a member of the Surrogate Decision-Making Committee. He utilizes this certification through his volunteer work with the Peacemaker Program, Inc. of Utica, New York.

When outside of the office, Chris may be found spending time with his children, coaching local youth sports, or cheering on the Syracuse Orange and the New York Yankees.

Firm Description

Welcome to Rheinhardt & Bray, P.C. - An Elder and Disability Law Firm

The questions we face in the last 30 years of life are no less daunting than those we faced in the first 30:

  • Will I outlive my money?
  • How can I preserve my assets?
  • How can I leave the most to my children and grandchildren without losing control of my finances?
  • Can I afford a nursing home or assisted living facility?
  • How can I qualify for Medicaid?
  • Do I need long term care insurance?
  • Should I purchase an annuity?
  • What sort of legal strategies can protect me and my assets?

Hours

Day From To
Monday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM

Cost

What Is an Elder Law Attorney?

Main Office

85 Otsego Street
PO Box 360
Ilion, NY 13357

201 W. Dominick Street
Rome, NY 13440

On the web

View Firm Website

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Social Media


Medicaid 101
What Medicaid Covers

In addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.

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How to Qualify for Medicaid

To be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.

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Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

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What Medicaid Covers

In addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.

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How to Qualify for Medicaid

To be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.

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Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

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Medicaid Planning Strategies

Careful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.

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Estate Recovery: Can Medicaid Take My House After I’m Gone?

If steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.

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Help Qualifying and Paying for Medicaid, Or Avoiding Nursing Home Care

There are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.

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Are Adult Children Responsible for Their Parents’ Care?

Most states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.

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Applying for Medicaid

Applying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.

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Alternatives to Medicaid

Medicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.

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ElderLaw 101
Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

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Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

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Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

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Health Care Decisions

We need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.

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Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

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Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

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Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

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Health Care Decisions

We need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.

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Long-Term Care Insurance

Understand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.

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Medicare

Learn who qualifies for Medicare, what the program covers, all about Medicare Advantage, and how to supplement Medicare’s coverage.

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Retirement Planning

We explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.

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Senior Living

Find out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.

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Social Security

Get a solid grounding in Social Security, including who is eligible, how to apply, spousal benefits, the taxation of benefits, how work affects payments, and SSDI and SSI.

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Special Needs Planning

Learn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.

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Veterans Benefits

Explore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.

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