Probate 101 – Appointment of the Executor
If you are named Executor in a Will, you may be asking yourself what are the next steps? Hiring a knowledgeable and experienced probate/estate attorney can help you with all the necessary steps in probating the Will. The first phase of probate is to get appointed as Executor by the Surrogates Court. The following documents need to be […]
What is Probate?
Probate sounds like a big scary word and often times can intimidate people. Probate is simply the legal process of distributing assets according to the Last Will & Testament of the Testator (person who created the will). The person that has this job is the executor of the estate listed in the Will. The executor has the […]
What is a Healthcare Proxy?
A proper estate plan does not just include a will but also includes a healthcare proxy and a durable power of attorney. The healthcare proxy and durable power of attorney are documents that can be used in the event of your incapacity. A healthcare proxy is a legal instrument that gives your agent the authority […]
Why Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning is a Terrible Idea
Many people do not want to spend their money to have proper estate planning done. They think that they can just do it themselves with a website like Legal Zoom or Rocket Lawyer. This is like requiring surgery and attempting to do it yourself. Here are the top 5 reasons why you should not have […]
What is an adult guardianship and when is it needed?
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Today is the oldest you’ve ever been, and the youngest you’ll ever be again.” Unfortunately, no one has found the cure for aging and as we get older our bodies and mind can begin to deteriorate. A guardianship is a legal proceeding commenced by a loved one, nursing home, or friend because they believe […]
5 Reasons YOU Should Have an Estate Plan
Many people procrastinate about creating an Estate Plan. Here are the Top 5 reasons why you should create an estate plan now 1. Minor Children- In the event of a catastrophic accident making sure that your children are cared for in the event of you and your partners death is absolutely necessary. With some simple estate planning […]
Pet Trusts- Providing for your pet upon your passing
She wakes up next to you every morning, cuddles with you on the couch when you are having a bad day, and is the first to give you a kiss when you get home from work. I’m talking about Roxy, your golden retriever. You think of Roxy as family and family should be provided for […]
What happens when there is a Guardianship proceeding for my Elderly Parent?
The Guardianship proceeding can be difficult to understand. There are many different participants in the Guardianship proceeding. The first participant is called the petitioner. This is the person that starts the guardianship proceeding. Many times this is a concerned family member who wants to take care of an Elderly parent’s health care decisions and financial […]