As the year comes to a close, New Yorkers are not only thinking about their resolutions for the coming year. With family gatherings during the winter holidays, it is important to think about the future and how to protect your assets and care for loved ones. Estate...
Estate Planning
Is it possible to avoid probate with a trust?
The probate litigation process can be long, time-consuming, expensive and very public. Sometimes it can lead to contentious litigation that can rip apart families. In New York, depending on your estate planning goals, you very well could avoid probate entirely with a...
Is a guardian the best option if I become incapacitated?
Even if you have an estate plan, you may not have planned for incapacitation and unable to make decisions for yourself. If you are in a coma, for example, who would pay the bills or manage your business? Who would make your health care decisions? And, if you have...
How to talk to your aging parents about estate planning
As your parents age, you might find yourself concerned about their final arrangements, especially whether they have an effective estate plan. This is an understandable concern. After all, your parents have worked hard to generate their wealth, and you want to ensure...
Making wishes clear is key with a health care proxy
When New Yorkers think about estate planning, they might automatically focus on wills or trusts. However, there are other aspects of estate planning that can also be important. For people who are concerned about what will happen if they are unable to make health care...
Guardians for children in a will
When you have children to provide for, there are some additional considerations for estate planning. Where will the children live if you die before they’re grown up? Who will take care of them? Is there anything you can add to your last will and testament to express...
Creating a family limited partnership
Estate planning can include creating a trust or will, but people may be less familiar with a family limited partnership as an estate planning option. A family limited partnership (FLP) is an entity created to manage and protect family assets. There are two types of...
Do young New Yorkers need an estate plan too?
Many people think that only older people need an estate plan, but do young New Yorkers need an estate plan too? The answer is yes. Not just about death An estate plan is not just about what happens to your assets after you die. It is also about what happens to you and...
Drafting power of attorney documents for your estate plan
No one likes to think about a possible time in life when they might be incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions. But, the reality is that the old saying is right – “accidents happen.” If something happens in your life and, even temporarily, you are unable...
There are fundamental points to remember with estate planning
New Yorkers who are thinking about the future and have concerns as to what will happen to their loved ones inevitably focus on estate planning. Many will have a vague notion as to what that entails. There is no doubt it can be confusing to decide how best to address...