Wills, Trusts, and Estates- What’s The Difference?

A Will is a legal document that controls where your assets go upon your passing. A Will only controls assets that are in your name alone.  The will also has to go through a Court process called Probate to give legal authority to the executor (person who fulfils the directions in the will) at the […]

Estate Planning Is More Important Than Ever in These Uncertain Times

Truth be told, none of us knows what the future holds. The outcome of US tax legislation proposals remains highly uncertain. It is unclear whether estate and gift tax exemptions will be cut in half, but whatever happens will affect all deaths and transfer of wealth after December 31, 2021. As part of your asset […]

Preventing Medicaid Penalties

In order to receive federal assistance through the Medicaid program for nursing home care, assisted living, in-home care, or adult foster care, an individual must meet the income and asset threshold requirements. Due to these rules, many candidates have to give away their money and resources to qualify. Medicaid administering agencies review all individual financial […]

Unwanted Timeshare Interest: How to Handle It

After Mom and Dad purchased a timeshare in a holiday resort, the resort agent suggested they go into a deed transferring ownership to their children, so that when they pass, the kids can continue to enjoy the home. It seemed like a good idea at the time.    Sadly, after mom and dad passed away, […]

Planning For the Future of Seniors and Their Loved Ones

According to the 2021 Wills and Estate Planning Study of 2,400 Americans by Caring.com with YouGov, the percentage of Americans aged fifty-five and older who have created a will has decreased from sixty percent to forty-four percent since 2019. As surprising as this decrease is the fact that younger adults are now 63 percent more […]

You’re Never Too Young to Start Your New York Estate Plan

It is fairly typical for young adults, even those with professional careers aged thirty or more, to believe they are too young to concern themselves with estate planning. Young adults in their twenties and thirties often think they don’t own enough to constitute an estate. However, an estate is the total of all you own […]

Estate Planning with Your Parents

Estate planning is one of the most challenging topics to discuss with our parents. Just bringing the topic up can be daunting. Despite the challenging nature of this subject, it is one of the most important conversations we can have with our parents. Having an estate plan in place can reduce confusion and anxiety at […]

What Is the Process of Administering an Estate in Court?

The probate process entails judicial officials, such as probate judges, processing the will of a decedent. State probate laws may vary, but the general process is similar across the country. Probate is the process of proving a decedent’s will. A probate judge will also oversee cases where the deceased person did not prepare a will, […]

In The Absence of a Will, Who Settles an Estate?

According to caring.com, overall percentages of older Americans without a will remain the same despite the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, younger adults with a will show an increase of sixty-three percent comparative to pre-pandemic times. This 18 – 34 year old demographic is now sixteen percent more likely to have a will than […]

Five Common Mistakes to Avoid When Establishing an Estate Plan

You spend the first half of your adult life trying to achieve financial security and the second half of your life trying to maintain it. This adage is why many people spend substantial time and effort, maximizing their legacy goals in their estate plan, ensuring their wishes come to pass. Your life’s work and ability […]