Estate Planning And Administration

A missing beneficiary can make probate more complicated. A will may name someone whom the executor cannot currently locate. Additional steps may be necessary to protect that person's interests. The beneficiary does not lose an inheritance simply because no one can...

Creating a will may not require retaining a professional, but it does require strict compliance with specific statutory rules. In New York, wills are subject to “execution formalities” that you must follow precisely. If you do not adhere to these requirements, the...

Modern estate planning involves much more than deciding who will receive your home, bank account or family heirlooms. The realities of the Digital Age have driven a pressing need for all adults – yourself included – to consider their digital footprint when estate...

When someone passes away, their estate generally goes through probate. Beneficiaries will typically get their inheritances, but it may not happen immediately. The probate process can take weeks or months, depending on the complexity of the estate, the availability of...

People who want to protect their resources, structure their legacies and minimize probate issues might create revocable living trusts. The person funding a trust, known as the trustor or grantor, often acts as the initial trustee. They manage resources and make trust...

Your executor shapes how smoothly your estate moves through probate after you die. A thoughtful choice can reduce delays, added costs and conflict among beneficiaries. What an executor may handle after you die In New York, you name your executor in your will, and the...

On its face, the estate planning process can seem complex and confusing. Yet, if you don’t know how to properly navigate it, then your assets could be subjected to additional taxation, your assets could fall into the wrong hands, or your family could end up fighting...

Estate planning can feel like a deeply personal endeavor. After all, throughout the process you have to come to terms with your own mortality and devise an asset distribution scheme that may be off-putting to some. But keeping your estate plan in the shadows can be a...

For many New York business owners, the company is not merely an asset but rather a product of a lifetime’s work and a foundation for their future generations. Keeping a family business within the family is often paramount, making it essential to plan and prepare for...

Preparing for the final stage of life means putting unmistakable instructions on paper. In New York, just a few critical documents lock in your healthcare directives, hand off financial authority and spell out how your assets will be shared. While nothing can lessen...