When drafting a will for a client, it is important that an estate planning attorney remember that we are doing more than putting together a legal document – we are also offering peace of mind. With that goal in mind, it is important to discuss four basic areas to help us tailor a last will […]

Imagine buying a beautiful new family car, taking it home, and leaving it parked in your garage. Then, instead of using your shiny new vehicle to transport your family, you use public transportation to get you and your family around. As silly as that sounds, that is what happens to many clients who establish trusts […]

Few joys in life match that of being a new parent. The moment your child is born, a tectonic shift takes place which makes even the most easygoing person lose sleep over their child's future. The sense of optimism and hope parents feel when holding a newborn is counterbalanced with the heavy weight of responsibility. […]

Young people, including the author, tend to think they are invincible. They don’t plan on getting sick or even worse, dying. Why, then, do they need an estate plan? For the same reason that older people create them: we are all mortals with a finite lifespan and no guarantee of good health. Young families do, […]

I often receive phone calls from potential clients asking whether, as an estate planning and elder attorney, I recommend that they add their children as co-owners to the deed of their house, co-op, or condominium. The callers are usually concerned with avoiding probate or protecting their home from Medicaid if they need long term care. […]

My dream to build an estate planning practice was born early in my law school career. My first trusts and estates class introduced me to a legal world where the most important and sensitive parts of our lives, our mortality, were front and center. I was excited about the prospect of working with families and […]

So you’ve done the responsible thing. You’ve prepared a last will to protect your family when you die. Great – now where do you keep it? For starters, somewhere your loved ones can find it. But which place is most safe yet accessible, convenient yet confidential? This article will discuss a few options clients have […]

As we had discussed in a prior article, a statutory short form durable power of attorney (“POA”) is an important document which every New Yorker should consider. To recap, a POA allows any agents you select, typically your spouse and/or children, to make financial decisions for you. This can be crucial if you are sick […]

In addition to the emotional and financial ramifications of a divorce, there are important estate planning implications for clients contemplating divorce or separation. Along with selling, dividing, and re-titling assets comes the necessity to reevaluate your estate plan. "Why?" you might ask. Here are a few important reasons to sit down with an estate planning […]

A significant portion of the assets we own are held jointly with another person. Almost anything, including real property, bank accounts, and investment accounts, can be, and often is, owned jointly. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to understand the various joint tenancies and their consequences. This article will deal with the three joint ownership […]