New York elder law estate planning is all about putting plans into place to designate inheritances, account for taxes, plan for disability, and otherwise provide peace of mind to account for long-term financial concerns. However, part of the challenge of the process is realizing that the future is unknown. It…
Our New York estate planning attorneys often help clients create “ethical wills.” An ethical will refers to a document left by an heir to pass along intangible assets like morals, lessons, and memories. Creating one of these wills is an important way to clarify the meaning of one’s life to…
Most local residents cherish their privacy. That extends to privacy in sensitive matters like estate planning. When considering estate planning, the first thing that comes to mind for many is the traditional will. Our New York estate planning lawyers frequently explain how there are now many more tools beyond wills…
Smart Money published an interesting story this week that lists several things that parents should tell their children about their personal estate plan. This planning is conducted for individuals, but it obviously implicates entire families. It is often challenging to balance the need for parents to make their own choices…
Market Watch reported last month on new research that suggests that many community members are misinformed about the cost of certain types of insurance. As New York estate planning attorneys we understand the importance of life insurance policies in many local resident’s financial planning efforts. Similarly, an important part of…
This is the time of year when many teenagers and young adults end one chapter of their lives and prepare for the next. It is also a time for many families to consider how far they’ve come and what the future holds for themselves and their loved ones. For those…
Local families with disabled children often have added complexities when conducting New York estate planning. Parents of children with special needs have a clear desire to ensure that estate plans are in place so their loved one will have necessary resources throughout their lives–even after the parents are gone. Fortunately,…
We previously discussed the Supreme Court case Astrue v. Capato. At root in the case was the issue of whether or not children conceived after the death of a parent are entitled to federal survivorship benefits. It is important to note that this refers only to those whose actual conception…
Many senior residents have concerns about outliving their beloved pets. That concern can be met as part of a thorough New York estate plan. Our state allows residents to create “pet trusts” that work just like regular trusts. Individuals can transfer assets into these entities with the funds to be…
The economic recession of 2007 and 2008 hit many residents quite hard. Retired and those near retirement in New York were often hurt hardest as the values of many assets were decimated. Our New York estate planning lawyers appreciate that fears about outliving one’s money are very real for thousands…