Heather Boyer Samuels is a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in Elder Law. Ms. Samuels is the Managing Attorney with Solkoff Legal, P.A., concentrating her practice in the areas of Medicaid and Veterans Asset Protection Planning, Estate Planning, Special Needs Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, and Guardianship.
Heather graduated cum laude and within the top 20% of her class at Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad Law Center and was an advocate with the Moot Court Society. Heather serves the community as the President of South Palm Beach County Florida Association for Women Lawyers, the Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar’s Ethics Committee and a member of the Executive Council of the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar, and is a Class VIII fellow of the Florida Bar’s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy. In 2020, Heather was honored by the Elder Law Section as “Member of the Year” together with her long time Co-Editor for her work as Co-Editor of the Elder Law Advocate.
As an attorney, Heather understands that her role is not only to be an advocate, but also to listen and counsel. With a background in feminism and civil rights, Heather embraces the importance of tikkun olam—a Jewish phrase that means “heal the world”—a practice that requires the performance of “mitzvot” or good deeds, the exercise of social understanding and equality for everyone, and adherence to ethical practices to improve society as a whole.
Although like many South Floridians Heather is a New York native, she enjoys life in South Florida with her husband, Richard, a CPA, their two children, and their elderly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
PRESENTATIONS TO LOCAL CIVICS GROUPS
Attorney Scott Solkoff has worked together with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs on three significant projects designed to benefit Florida’s seniors. The first was the development of the Florida Guardianship Education Coalition which Mr. Solkoff co-chaired with the late Honorable Thomas E. Penick, Jr. The second was the development of a pooled special needs trust managed by a legislatively-created direct service organization. The trust is the first of its kind to provide legislatively-authorized protection for assets of persons with disabilities while also providing funding for indigent people who require otherwise cost-prohibitive guardianship. The third project is the housing of SHINE volunteers in the offices of Solkoff Legal, P.A.
Solkoff Legal, P.A. was selected as a counseling site where seniors can meet with trained volunteers who provide consumer guidance on Medicare and other insurance choices. Solkoff Legal, P.A. provides complimentary space and support services for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs SHINE program. For more information on the SHINE program or to set an appointment with a SHINE representative, visit the SHINE website. The fact that the SHINE program meets in the law offices of Solkoff Legal, P.A. does not imply any legal advice or endorsement by Solkoff Legal, P.A. of advice provided by SHINE representatives and nor does this program infer any endorsement of Solkoff Legal, P.A. by the SHINE program or the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. This program is part of the charitable mission of Solkoff Legal, P.A.
