Unfortunately, seniors are prime targets for financial abuse and scams. The elderly are often taken advantage of by strangers — and sometimes even their own family members. That’s why it’s crucial to have planning in place to protect seniors and…
Legal disputes over wills and trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships can affect the authenticity of gifts and the ownership of family homes and land. The most successful approach to mitigating or avoiding probate litigation is carefully planning for the future. Comprehensive…
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 September 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…
The social security law and benefit requirements can be very confusing! Many people mistakenly believe that SSI and SSDI are one and the same. This article will clarify the major differences between these two distinct programs. An estate attorney in…
One of the most frustrating things as a special needs planning attorney is creating an estate plan for parents who tell me they need to disinherit their special needs children because they are receiving some kind of government benefits. While…
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…