Parenting a child with special needs comes with unique responsibilities. Funding a special needs trust (SNT) with life insurance is one of the most important things you can do to provide additional monies while protecting eligibility for government benefit programs…
A family member’s passing is a difficult time that leads the family to question, among other things, what to do with their car. The decedent’s car is part of their estate and the estate administration process, requiring action by the…
Falls Prevention Awareness Week is a nationwide effort to raise awareness that falls are preventable for older adults. This year the week-long national health campaign is being observed from Septiembre 18th through the 24th. Falls among older adults are a big…
If you are a beneficiary of a trust or estate, or next-of-kin to a decedent whose estate is involved in a Surrogate’s Court probate proceeding, you should consult with a qualified attorney before signing any documents or waiving your rights…
New York state has three types of guardianship proceedings to appoint a guardian. The need for a guardian may arise in various situations, such as when parents have a special needs child, someone is caring for a disabled adult after…
La ley de la Seguridad Social y los requisitos de las prestaciones pueden ser muy confusos. Muchas personas creen erróneamente que el SSI y el SSDI son lo mismo. Este artículo aclarará las principales diferencias entre estos dos programas distintos. Un abogado de...
Una de las cosas más frustrantes como abogado especializado en planificación de necesidades especiales es crear un plan de sucesión para padres que me dicen que necesitan desheredar a sus hijos con necesidades especiales porque reciben algún tipo de prestación gubernamental. Aunque...
Medicaid eligibility rules are complicated. Many people are confused by the lookback period. And often, people aren’t sure how asset transfers can make an impact when applying for Medicaid. The Lookback Rule New York’s law on Institutional Medicaid imposes a “look-back” period of…
Question: I created an Irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trust. Do I need to file a tax return for the trust? Answer: Let’s start by defining the trust. Appropriately named, a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (“MAPT”) is created to shield assets from Medicaid…
The fiduciary of an estate may use either the calendar year or the fiscal year as the “taxable year.” Typically, most fiduciaries elect to use a fiscal year because it gives them more time to think about estate taxes during…