Trusts are a common and popular part of many estate plans. However, despite the commonplace of trusts some people do not understand how some of these trusts work and therefore feel they do not have a need for one. Trusts…
Get the estate planning documents in place. John was in good health but unfortunately passed away leaving his wife, Angela and their three children to not only deal with his loss but also his estate. He managed the family's financial…
It’s that time of the year again, when our children are starting to say goodbye to their summer vacation and gear up for a new school year. It’s around this time when many parents will take their kids off to…
Governor Cuomo recently signed an amendment to the Real Property Tax Laws that will continue partial tax abatements for cooperatives and condominiums held in trust. In January 2013 the New York State legislature passed Chapter 4 of the Laws of…
I’m sure James Gandolfini had good intentions when he updated his estate plan in December 2012, months after the birth of his daughter. But good intentions sometimes result in costly consequences, and this is no exception. Thanks to poor estate…
Often when a celebrity dies unexpectedly the public becomes interested in their estate either because it’s extremely large, there is some sort of squabble over the assets, or there is no estate plan at all. In the case of James…
In a landmark 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Wednesday, allowing same-sex couples to enjoy the same federal benefits as married opposite-sex couples. In Windsor v. U.S., the Justices ruled that DOMA, which…
Are you thinking of a way to honor a loved one in a meaningful way? Did your loved one have a special affection for her school or for a particular subject area? Colleges, Universities, High Schools and even Elementary Schools…
According to the recent US Census Bureau, New Yorkers are leaving to many different states in our country. The number one state, of course, is Florida but you might be surprised by numbers 2-5, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and California…
Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) is an important part of retirement planning that should not be overlooked. Although it can be a vital component of a well-rounded and realistic retirement plan for most, it is not necessarily for everyone. For example,…