Estate Planning

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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Why You Need Legal Advice for Elder Law and Estate Planning

Everyone has their niche.

Financial advisors have a certain field of expertise, and most are very good at what they do. However, when it comes to elder law, Medicaid and estate planning, there is no substitute for sound legal advice.

Case study:

A retiree originally made an appointment with a law firm specializing in estate planning and elder law – but, a family friend was a financial advisor. He decided to work with his friend and canceled his appointment with the law firm.

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The Complexities of Whitney Houston’s Estate and Trust

The tragic death of Bobbi Kristina, Whitney Houston’s only child, has left her estate in limbo.

Houston’s will left the entirety of her estate, including jewelry, clothing, cars, record profits and music royalties, in a spendthrift trust to the sole heir, Bobbi Kristina.

The provisions of this trust stated that Bobbi Kristina would receive the distributions in three installments: 1/10 at age 21, 1/6 to be received at age 25, and the remainder of the estate upon her turning 30. Based on these provisions, Bobbi Kristina was only entitled to 1/10 of the estate when she died since she was only 22 years old at the time of her passing.

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Should You Have a Living Trust? Exploring the Benefits

Is a Trust Right for you?Many clients frequently come to me and ask if they should have a trust. Sometimes they are not even sure what a trust is and, more often than not, they do not understand how a trust works.

Although my mother always told me to never answer a question with a question (sorry mom!), my initial response is a question – what are you looking to accomplish by having a trust?

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