When you go to the doctor, you expect to be asked invasive questions. When you go see an estate planning attorney, however, you may not be expecting the same level of personal inquiries. After all, an attorney is not taking…
Recently, a client called me in a bit of a panic. She had just received the drafts of her Will and was shocked to see that it was thirty pages long! She didn’t understand why and told me all she…
Why we recommend the Peace of Mind Program to all our clients: The Peace of Mind Program [POM] is an ongoing maintenance program that provides a cost-effective way to ensure your plan is up to date and meets your goals…
Determining who you should select to serve as the Executor of your estate can often be a difficult decision. It is important to understand the duties and responsibilities of an Executor before you make your final decision. Here are some…
John Smith, who has dementia, need nursing home care at $160,000 per year. His two children, Chris and Danielle, have no access to his bank checking account and his other assets because there is no Durable power of attorney in…
Retirement accounts are commonly one of our clients’ largest assets. These retirement accounts represent the fruit of a lifetime of labor, years of tax-deferred appreciation, and what many hope will be a lasting legacy that will help their children/beneficiaries in…
In making the decision to meet with an estate planning attorney to create a Last Will and Testament, you will need to decide who to nominate as your Executor. Among other responsibilities, your Executor is the person that will be…
With the federal and New York state tax exemptions being so high ($11.18 million and $5.25 million, respectively), clients with family businesses held in an S-corporation are less focused on reducing estate taxes and are more focused on avoiding probate…
What is the IRA Charitable Rollover and how does it work? The Individual Retirement Account (“IRA”) Charitable Rollover is a “Qualified Charitable Distribution” which allows the IRA owner, who is 70 ½ or older, to make tax free gifts of…
As Elder Law attorneys we are keenly aware of the many serious issues that impact the senior citizen population. We take great pride in being advocates for our senior clients and strive to educate our clients and the general population…