Cookies

We use cookies and related technologies to personalize and enhance your experience. By using this site you agree to the use of cookies and related tracking technologies.

Privacy Policy

Anne B. Ruffer

Anne B. Ruffer

Anne concentrates her practice in estate planning (wills, trusts, and advanced directives), estate and trust administration, elder law and long-term planning, special needs planning, estate litigation and guardianships, as well as a variety of business related matters.

Practice Areas

Professional and Community Activities

Current:

  • New York State Bar Association (Trusts and Estates and Elder Law Sections and former Elder Law Fifth District Delegate)
  • Onondaga County, American Bar and CNY Women’s Bar Associations
  • Centerstate CEO Board Member and serves on its Risk Assessment Committee
  • Lectures on the topics of estate planning, asset preservation, guardianship and ethics matters for the New York State Bar Association, Onondaga County Bar Association and private organizations

 

Prior:

  • Member of the Executive Committee
  • Firm’s Managing Partne
  • Chair of the Firm’s Trust and Estates Department
  • President of the Onondaga County Bar Foundation
  • Chairperson for Vera House Foundation, Inc. and Major Gifts Committee Chairperson
  • Regular volunteer at Vera House’s Monday Night Legal Clinic
  • Chair of the CNY Community Foundation’s Professional Advisors Group
  • Member of the Menorah Park Foundation
  • Member of the Arc Guardianship committee
  • President of the Vera House Board of Directors
  • Served as Vera House’s liaison to the United Way
  • Member of the DeWitt Community Library Board of Trustees
  • A Vice-President of Congregation Beth Sholom Chevra-Shas
  • Co-Authored the Tax News column for “Elder Law Attorney,” a publication of the New York State Bar Association
  • Co-Chair of the OCBA Surrogate’s Court Practice Committee
  • Co-Author of New York Practice Guide-Probate and Estate Administration (LexisNexis)

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Wisconsin, Psychology
  • Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel from 1978 – 1979
  • Juris Doctorate, Syracuse University College of Law, High Honors

Admissions

  • New York State Bar

Experience

  • Assists clients with a variety of assets and wealth with their estate planning, including drafting wills, a variety of trusts, advanced directives and beneficiary designations.
  • Assists clients with trust, estate and family asset resolution and disputes, including litigation in Surrogate’s and Supreme Court where necessary.
  • Works with clients in planning for giving to individuals with special needs.
  • Handles all matters regarding transfer of assets on the death of an individual including estate and trust administration.
  • Assists clients in asset preservation planning and Medicaid qualification for entrance into nursing home or home care.
  • Works with clients on related business matters.

News

Mackenzie Hughes Thanks Anne B. Ruffer for her leadership role, Elects Richard C. Engel Managing Partner, Appoints James H. Nicoll Business Department Chair

Attorney Anne B. Ruffer electively stepped down as the firm’s Managing Partner effective December 31, 2023, after serving in that role for six years.  During that time, she oversaw the day-to-day firm operations, worked in supporting the firm’s various practice areas, managed its fiscal responsibility, encouraged attorneys’ community involvement, and advanced the firm’s positive culture.  […]

Read More about Anne B. Ruffer

Nine Mackenzie Hughes Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers

Nine attorneys from Mackenzie Hughes LLP were recognized in the 2023 edition of Super Lawyers. Those recognized as “Super Lawyers” include: Clayton H. Hale, Jr., tax; Stephen T. Helmer, business litigation, personal injury – medical malpractice, civil litigation; Ami S. Longstreet, elder law, estate planning & probate; Jillian L. McGuire, family law; Edward J. Moses, […]

Read More about Anne B. Ruffer

COVID-19 TASK FORCE FORMED

      MEMO To:  Our Clients and Friends From:  Anne B. Ruffer, Chair of Executive Committee Date:  March 30, 2020 Re:  COVID-19: Mackenzie Hughes Task Force Prompted by the devastating effect that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had on the financial stability of the country, on March 27, the 2020 Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, […]

Read More about Anne B. Ruffer

Blog

COVID-19 TASK FORCE FORMED

      MEMO To:  Our Clients and Friends Re:  COVID-19: Mackenzie Hughes Task Force Prompted by the devastating effect that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had on the financial stability of the country, on March 27, the 2020 Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “Act” or “CARES”).  Described as the […]

Read More about Anne B. Ruffer

New Legislation and Estate Planning

New Legislation and Estate Planning What is the buzz about the SECURE Act that keeps popping up in news reports, tweets and in your email account?  You are curious to find out but you’ve always been too busy to sit down and read about it. Take a few moments and read on. The SECURE Act […]

Read More about Anne B. Ruffer

Implementing Local Legacy Simply

Anne Ruffer is Chair of the Community Foundation’s Professional Advisor Council.  She wrote this article for the winter edition of Smart Money, a publication of the Central New York Community Foundation, to give some guidance on incorporating charitable giving into estate plans. In 2010, the Central New York Community Foundation commissioned a study on wealth […]

Read More about Anne B. Ruffer