Proper estate planning involves respecting client wishes about distribution of assets while creating legal documents to avoid probate, save estate taxes, and plan for disability. Many plans include similar components, but there is flexibility so that each client’s unique goals and preferences are accommodated. For example, many area community members…
Some area residents may think that New York estate planning is only for married seniors who have big families and substantial wealth. Fortunately, more and more people are coming to understand that this planning is a necessity for all community members, no matter what their situation in life. The Calgary…
An important benefit of visiting with a New York estate planning lawyer to help with your asset planning is that on top of carrying out your wishes, the professional can share avenues available to you of which you may not be aware. For example, many area residents are under the…
New York estate planning is often given little thought by some local residents until a specific event brings attention to the issue. A retirement, death of a close friend or relative, and similar occurrences often act as a catalyst leading residents to consider plans for their own affairs. Unfortunately, for…
by Michael Ettinger, Esq. We were thinking the other day about what typically happens when a client signs a will. After the will signing, the client often fails to ever look at the will again and the lawyer may never contact the client again either. Now, let’s say this particular…
We received a call last Friday from a woman who said that her father had died but her stepmother was claiming that he did not have a will. The daughter was certain that he did, in fact, have a will. What happens in such a case? Regardless what the daughter…
by Michael Ettinger, Esq. “Elder Law Estate Planning” is a niche area of the law which combines the features of elder law and estate planning that pertain most to the needs of the middle class. Estate planning was originally for the wealthy few. Middle class families did not consider themselves…
By Michael Ettinger, Esq. So many clients are advised that they need a will. In fact, will planning is becoming obsolete for persons over sixty for many reasons. Instead of actually solving problems, wills often create them. First, they must be proven to be valid in a court proceeding, the…
By Michael Ettinger, Attorney at Law . Historically, estate planning consisted of setting up a will and leaving everything to one’s children in equal shares, “per stirpes”. The “per stirpes” is latin for “by the roots”, meaning that if any of the children predecease their parents then their share goes…
by Michael Ettinger, Esq. Same sex couples face unique estate planning issues since, in many jurisdictions, their unions are not legally protected. New York, for example, does not permit same sex marriages although the state does recognize same sex marriages performed elsewhere (i.e., Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Iowa and D.C.). Living…