Planning for Shareholder Death and Disability in Low-Income HDFC Co-ops

Planning for Shareholder Death and Disability in Low-Income HDFC Co-ops

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

This program provides a practical, end-to-end overview of estate planning and administration issues that arise when a shareholder in a low-income Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC) cooperative dies or becomes incapacitated. Designed for attorneys advising HDFC residents, boards, and family members, the program addresses both foundational concepts and the unique legal challenges presented by these cooperatives.

The program will begin with an overview of HDFC co-ops, including their history, the communities they serve, and the statutory and regulatory framework governing them. Faculty will review common forms of regulatory agreements and proprietary leases, with particular attention to income limits and resale restrictions that significantly affect estate planning and succession.

Building on this framework, presenters will discuss best practices for preparing wills and estate planning documents for HDFC shareholders, including healthcare proxies, living wills, powers of attorney, and appointments of agents to control the disposition of remains. Special emphasis will be placed on co-op–specific considerations that can impact these documents.

The program will then examine common estate administration issues that arise following a shareholder’s death, including situations where death occurs in the apartment, cases involving intestacy, the role of the Public Administrator, and challenges related to unpaid maintenance. The faculty will also explore HDFC-specific complications, including how income restrictions and resale limitations affect estate administration and transfers of ownership.

The program will conclude with a Q&A session and wrap-up discussion, allowing participants to raise practical questions and explore real-world scenarios.

Panelists

Debra Bechtel, Professor Emerita

Brooklyn Law School

Brooklyn, New York 

Rachel Jaffe, Esq. 

Goldstein Hall PLLC

New York City, Albany and New Rochelle 

Jarrett Roth, Esq.

Schwartz, Sladkus, Reich, Greenberg and Atlas

New York, New York

Mindy Stern, Esq. 

Schwartz, Sladkus, Reich, Greenberg and Atlas

New York, New York

Daniel Weisz, Esq. 

Law Offices of Daniel Weisz P.C. 

Scarsdale, New York

This program is sponsored by the Real Property Law Section Committee on Condominiums and Cooperatives, tand co-sponsored by The Elder Law and Special Needs Section and the Trusts and Estates Law Section.