Over 60% of Americans do not have a will or any estate plan in place. This alarming statistic reveals a critical gap in Americans' preparation for the future, especially when it comes to their children. Estate planning, particularly creating a will, is crucial in...
Most New Yorkers assume that making a will prevents all intra-family squabbles about asset distribution after the maker’s death. If only this were so. . . . Family members often feel short-changed by one or more provisions of the will of a relative. These individuals...
Life comes with many unforeseen and unexpected changes. When you are in the midst of a change, estate planning documents may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But, what if something changes, you may lose a spouse or what if your favorite charity changes? This...
A common refrain from people who have not created any kind of estate plan is that they do not have enough property to make it worthwhile. In some instances, that is true. However, in many cases, these people had estates more valuable than they thought. Their failure...
If you are an adult sibling who is unhappy with the way your parents’ estate was divided in their will, you may wonder if you have any legal recourse to challenge the will and get a fair share of the inheritance. Indeed, there are grounds for contesting a will in New...
In New York, when someone writes a will, it details how they want their property to be distributed and to whom at the time it is written. However, with life changes will likely come a desire to update a will. There could be a divorce, a new marriage, children,...
Often, a will goes through the probate process and the estate is closed without issue. Sometimes, however, the beneficiaries of the will want to challenge it, known as a will contest. If the beneficiaries are unhappy with their share of the deceased person's assets,...
While some people in New York enjoy a good surprise, a surprise many do not wish is to find out upon a loved one’s death is that that you are inheriting much less than you expected or have been left out of the will entirely. If this happens you may wish to contest the...