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Daniel J. Reiter is an adult guardianship and estate litigation attorney in New York City. He authors the Adult Guardianship Law Blog and Surrogate's Court Monitor.
Mr. Reiter routinely represents petitioners in proceedings for the appointment of a guardian, guardians, alleged incapacitated persons, and incapacitated persons. He also serves as an independent court-appointed guardian.
Mr. Reiter is an experienced estate litigator and practitioner in Surrogate’s Court, where he handles kinship proceedings, will contests, turnover proceedings, contested accounting proceedings, creditors’ claims against estates, wrongful death compromise proceedings, and a variety of other matters. He is regularly appointed as a Guardian ad Litem for disabled individuals in Surrogate’s Court proceedings.
During law school, Mr. Reiter interned in Richmond County Surrogate’s Court, where he played a leading role in drafting a judicial decision regarding a guardianship dispute.
Mr. Reiter is a member of the New York City Bar Association’s Mental Health Law Committee.
He is also certified by Part 36 of the Rules of the Chief Judge to serve as Attorney for the Guardian, Guardian, Attorney for the Alleged Incapacitated Person, Court Evaluator, Guardian ad Litem, and as a Supplemental Needs Trustee.
Prior to becoming an attorney, he worked as a political reporter for Politicker.com, providing political coverage from the floors of the 2008 Republican and Democratic National Conventions. Following his departure, he was lauded as an “omnipresent” reporter by the Baltimore Sun.
Mr. Reiter lives in New York City with his wife, a health care professional and photographer.
Practice Areas
- Adult guardianship
- Kinship proceedings
- Estate litigation
Education
- Suffolk University Law School, Juris Doctor, 2013
- New England College, Master of Arts Degree in International Relations, 2010
- New England College, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, 2018
Certificated: Part 36 Rules of the Chief Judge
- Attorney for the Guardian
- Guardian
- Attorney for the Alleged Incapacitated Person
- Court Evaluator
- Guardian ad Litem
- Supplemental Needs Trustee
Admissions to Practice
- State of New York
- State of New Jersey
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
- United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
- United States Court of International Trade
Professional Memberships and Associations
- New York State Bar Association
- Trusts and Estates Law Section
- Elder Law and Special Needs Section
- New York City Bar Association
- Mental Health Law Committee
- The Orion Resource Group
- Aging Together
- National Guardianship Association
Publications
- Interposing Mistake as an Objection to Probate, N.Y. St. B. Ass’n. Tr. & Est. L. Sec. Newsl., vol. 50, no. 1, at p. 25 (Spring 2017)
- Obviating the Need for Guardianship With Powers of Attorney: It’s Not as Easy as You Think, N.Y. St. B. Ass’n. Elder and Special Needs L. J., vol. 28, no. 3, at p. 31 (Summer 2018).
- Defensive Estate Planning with Powers of Attorney: How to Avoid Mayhem, Chaos and Unintended Consequences. N.Y. St. B. Ass’n. One on One, vol. 40, no. 1, at p. 13 (Spring/Summer 2019).
Speaking Engagements
- Adult Guardianship in New York 101 (MHL Art. 81 Overview)
National Law Institute
Continuing Legal Education
September 27, 2018 - Real Estate and Estate Planning Strategies
National Law Institute
Continuing Education for Real Estate Agents
(Co-Instructor Jennifer Weisser, Esq.)
December 4, 2018 - Defensive Estate Planning: Strategies, Techniques, and Best Practices
National Law Institute
Continuing Legal Education
June 25, 2019
January 15, 2019 - Presentation to Surrogate’s Court interns about law school admissions, law practice management, and the day-to-day life of a lawyer
Richmond County Surrogate’s Court
July 1, 2019 - Presentation on adult guardianship law in New York with a focus on powers guardians can and cannot exercise
Think Tank (Attorney Study Group)
July 16, 2020 - Administering Real Property in a Decedent’s Estate in New York
Lawline
Continuing Legal Education
July 28, 2020 - Preparing Discharge Applications in NY Mental Hygiene Law Article 81 Proceedings
Lawline
Continuing Legal Education
August 27, 2020 - Representing Clients with Diminished Capacity: Ethical Rules and Best Practices
New York City Bar Association
Continuing Legal Education
October 5, 2020 - Defensive Estate Planning: Avoiding Conflict, Abuse, and Litigation
Lawline
Continuing Legal Education
December 1, 2020 - Stepping Into Their Shoes: Understanding Adult Guardianship, Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Proxies in New York
Panelest (Topic: Acting as Guardian)
Orion Resource Group
April 27, 2021 - Estate Administration of Real Property and Co-Ops in New York
LawPracticeCLE
Continuing Legal Education
November 8, 2021