Inheritance feuds are quite common when a family member dies without an estate plan. Those who die young are the most likely to have failed to leave any legal documents that express their wishes. Unfortunately, the perception still exists that estate planning is something with which only seniors need be…
Nearly nine hundred same sex couples were married in New York on Sunday. It marked the first day that members of the LGBT community could receive marriage licenses after the landmark marriage equality bill was passed late last month and signed by the Governor. Marriage equality will provide each partner…
The Wall Street Journal wrote this weekend on a unique estate planning issue that is becoming relevant to a growing number of families: the inheritance rights of children conceived after one’s death through in vitro fertilization. More people than ever before are cryopreserving their gametes which can then be unfrozen…
One of the more novel aspects of modern New York estate planning includes determining what to do with one’s digital life after death. Social networks like Facebook, Twitter, email archives, and other online resources continue to expand. Individuals of every age are using the services to store past communications, share…
Our New York elder law estate planning lawyers know that proper estate planning can help clients save money on taxes and probate costs, ultimately allowing them to pass on more of their assets at death. Besides leaving a larger estate, preparation also ensures that the distribution is likely to occur…
A trust is a centerpiece of many New York elder law estate plans. Trusts are usually superior to wills for transferring assets at death. Trusts are preferred because they can be used to avoid probate, reduce estate taxes, protect children from earlier marriages, and more. Essentially these entities remove assets…
Pet estate planning is growing in popularity as more jurisdictions have begun allowing residents to create legal documents to provide for their animals after death. Pet trusts are becoming an important part of the New York estate planning process as New York is one of forty five states that permit…
This weekend the Wall Street Journal published a helpful article discussing some important aspects of New York estate planning that many residents overlook. Besides creating documents like wills and trusts, the best preparation also includes clear instructions that help family members understand where and how they can access the information…
This weekend the New York Times reported on the sad legal battles of 94-year-old actress and Broadway star, Celeste Holm. Ms. Holm gained famed as a leading film actress in the 1940s, starring in All About Eve and winning an Oscar for her performance in Gentleman’s Agreement. Now, however, Ms.…
One important goal of a New York estate plan is to provide a degree of certainty when it comes to family property issues. Each family is different. Deaths, marriages, divorces, children, and other events create various relationship dynamics within every family. Those relationships are often changing. When it comes to…