Estate Planning

What is a Pet Trust?

What is a Pet Trust?Most pet owners think of their pet as a member of the family.  

You love your pet and want to make sure that he will be taken care of after you pass away. After reaching that decision, most people are still unsure of what arrangements need to be made.  

What is a pet trust?

A pet trust is a legal agreement to provide for the care of one or more pets in the event that the pet owner dies or becomes unable to care for them. New York State gives statutory authority for the benefit of pets under Estates, Powers, and Trusts Law, Chapter 17-B.

Read More

Preparing for the Winter: Legal Documents for Peace of Mind

You Don’t Need to Travel to Our Office to Get HelpUnless you have a crystal ball, it’s impossible to predict what the future holds. Should you become unable to make your own decisions, it is imperative to appoint someone to take care of your affairs and make healthcare decisions on your behalf.  Additionally, in order to ensure that your assets are passed on to your loved ones without problems, high legal fees and time delays, it is important to start your planning today.

Read More

Who is in charge of my remains when I die?

Who is in charge of my remains when I die?One of the most challenging topics to discuss when creating an estate plan is the topic of your remains. As attorneys, we meet people from all backgrounds, many of whom have varying wishes as to what should happen to their remains after they die.

Oftentimes, the default plan that people chose is to be buried through a funeral home. There is no law requiring the use of a funeral home, though many choose to do so because of the full range of services offered, which can make the entire burial process a little easier. If you would like to retain the services of a funeral home, then you should research funeral homes now and make arrangements for a prepaid funeral. Planning ahead will alleviate the stress your loved ones may feel about making arrangements for your burial and can help ensure that the funeral home of your choosing provides services you desire.

Read More

Why You Should NOT Write Your Own Will

Why You Should NOT Write Your Own WillUsing a Will or a Trust that you found by searching on Google is like using WebMD to diagnose a serious illness.

A rational person would not consult WebMD to learn how to treat a serious illness. You might use it as a source of reference, but if you are in pain or want to prevent health issues, you consult to a doctor.

The same is true when planning your estate. You may save a couple dollars by creating your own estate plan, but you are going to cost your loved ones ten times that with the expense of going to court, and by hiring an attorney to interpret and administer the errors in the DIY estate plan you created.

Read More

Why Is It Important to Designate a Beneficiary?

A question clients often ask is, “What happens to my assets when I die?”

The answer to that popular question depends on what you do while you are alive.

When you die, your assets are essentially bulked into two general categories: (1) Non-Probate Assets; and (2) Probate Assets.

In order to determine if something is a non-probate or probate asset, you must look at the way in which the asset is owned.

Read More

How I Found Love in Elder Law and Estate Planning

Personal Anecdote: Why I Love Elder LawMy first job as an attorney was working for an attorney who concentrated on elder law and estate planning.    

A family member introduced him to me– and now, I cannot imagine doing any other type of law.

I love meeting with families and helping them when they are in difficult situations. It is incredibly rewarding to be able to help someone through a crisis, and come up with solutions that enable them to preserve their dignity and protect their assets.

Read More

Why Everyone Should Have a Will

Why do I need a will?It is estimated that 64% of Americans do not have a will. Some of the top reasons people give for not making a will include:

  • I do not have enough money to need a will
  • I just have not gotten around to it
  • I will not need it for a long time
  • I do not want to think about my own mortality

As recent celebrity deaths have shown, life can end unexpectedly in an instant. Without the proper planning, the inevitable can have many unwanted and unintended consequences for those you leave behind.

Read More

Restorative Tax Exemptions for New York Property Owners

When you own a piece of real property in New York State, your circumstance dictates whether or not you are entitled to certain tax exemptions.

What does this mean? Your personal residence may qualify for a number of exemptions based on factors such as whether you are a senior citizen, have financial difficulty, or are a veteran. In addition, if you and your spouse earn under $500,000 per year, then you could file for the STAR exemption for your personal residence.

Read More

Estate Planning and Ironman: What’s the Connection?

Estate Planning -- Like an Ironman! by Deanna M. Eble

Estate Planning and an Ironman event…what does one have to do with the other you ask? EVERYTHING!

As a proud wife of a first-time Ironman and an elder law attorney, I can explain.

Step 1: Hire a Coach

  • Most first-time Ironmen striving to cross that finish line after 140.6 miles of swimming, biking and running need direction on how to build up their endurance for such a long race.
  • Most people doing estate planning for the first time need a plan to protect their assets. Elder law attorneys know what needs to be done to protect your assets from your future long-term care costs.
Read More
Back To Top
Search