Real Estate Ownership and Transfer
So you own your home and you think that it will be transferred to your family upon your passing without going to court. But is that really the case? What does all of this mean? A house that is owned…
Announcing Our 2018 “Super Lawyers”
Our partners, Vincent J. Russo and Marie Elena Puma have once again been named “Super Lawyers” on the “New York Metro Super Lawyers” list. This is Vincent’s 12th year being recognized as a Super Lawyer and Marie Elena’s 3rd year receiving this honor,…
Do You Own Property In Two States?
It’s that time of year where we are celebrating with our loved ones and we are starting to make plans for what we want to do better or different in the coming year. Reassessing your estate plan should be at…
Medicaid Gift Rules You Need to Know
As a planner, I sometimes hear things like: “I thought I could give my kids $10,000” “I’ll just sell my house to my children for $1” “Can I pay my grandson’s college tuition and not have to worry about Medicaid?…
Can I Revoke My Irrevocable Trust?
When it comes to protecting your assets from the costs of a long-term illness, such as a nursing home, the Medicaid Asset Protection Trust is a staple planning technique. It is an effective way to protect your home (and other…
Why College Students Need Estate Planning
I have a client who several years ago got one of those phone calls no parent ever wants to get. Her daughter, Susie, was a freshman at a college in upstate New York. She had graduated in the top 10%…
What Happens If The Executor In My Will Dies First?
If the nominated Executor in your Last Will and Testament dies, then you should meet with an experienced estate planning attorney to review and possibly update your will to account for the loss. If you do not update your Will,…
¿Qué es un "Grantor Trust"?
In the simplest terms, a Grantor Trust is a trust that authorizes a grantor (the person who set up the trust) to retain certain powers with respect to the property transferred to the trust and the trust administration. These powers…
Maximizing Your VA Benefits: What the New Rules Mean for You
Effective as of Octubre 18, 2018, the Veteran’s Administration (VA) will be implementing significant comprehensive changes to the pension benefit rules. These rules were actually published back on Enero 2015 but have not been implemented until now. Some background first. …
Have you received your new Medicare Card yet?
Medicare recipients who reside in New York should keep an eye out for their new Medicare card. In an effort to prevent fraud, and fight identity theft, the federal government is issuing new Medicare cards to all Medicare beneficiaries that…