Estate Planning

There are many life changes that occur during one’s existence, not the least of which is moving to another location. Quite often, for job placement or family reasons, the move is to another state. Along with this move comes the inevitable question of whether one’s will and other various estate planning documents are valid in Read on…

Setting up advanced health care directives to deal with end-of-life treatment can be one of the more difficult steps to take in your estate planning portfolio. Nonetheless, whether it concerns palliative care or if you will be under anesthesia and will need these directives in place, it is important you have an attorney set up Read on…

When drafting your last will and testament, one of the most important components of the will is who is going to be the person who oversees your affairs when you pass away. In short, who do you want to select to be your executor. This is one of the reasons it is crucial to have Read on…

With the advent of the internet and the age of information, people may believe that by conducting a simple Google (or other search engine) search, they can effectively and properly produce an estate planning that satisfies their needs and the needs of their family. In most cases, the risks of such estate planning without the Read on…

For the single person, proper estate planning is just as important as it is for those who are married. A single person may also have children but does not reside with a partner. Nonetheless, single people should be mindful or the importance and necessity of a proper estate planning structure for their future. It is Read on…

There are specific provisions that can be set up in the context of a will to provide a funded trust for one’s pet. I sure understand that a pet is a loved one that is part of the family. A provision should be included within the context of the will that creates a testamentary pet Read on…

Quite often, estate clients are interested in the creation of a trust, whether revocable or irrevocable, with varied purposes in mind. A trust is what is known as a testamentary substitute, meaning that assets that are titled in the name of a trust will pass outside the purview of a Last Will and Testament. This Read on…

As set forth in the New York Estates, Powers, and Trusts Law (EPTL), an interested party may object to a Last Will and Testament being offered for probate on the basis of undue influence exerted upon the Testator (the person who signed the Will). If it is determined that an interested party or family member Read on…

As with any documents concerning your estate or incapacity, it is often quite prudent to review these papers at regular time intervals, especially when there is a change in life circumstances (i.e. marriage, birth, death, relocation). The Durable Power of Attorney (POA) in New York is no exception. As previously stated in prior blogs, the Read on…

Clients often ask me if they should have more than one agent named on the New York Durable Power of Attorney (POA). The high-level answer to this question is “it depends”. Logistically speaking, it is often easier if only one agent is appointed on the POA. This is because financial institutions may require both agents Read on…