Life has its ups and downs, and over the course of a lifetime, we all make decisions that impact our lives — both in the present and in the future. Divorce and remarriage are two of those life changes that of course have profound impacts on our lives. But while they impact our day-to-day lives, Read More
For the average person, understanding estate planning law or financial planning in intricate detail just isn’t necessary. Many people trust your estate planning attorney or financial planner to take care of what’s necessary and give you the important details to make the most critical decisions. But others may not work with both an estate planning Read More
The landscape for student loans is on the cusp of changing drastically. With recent changes in New York State potentially offering free tuition to millions of students down the road, the end of student loans — at least in New York — may very well be on the horizon. Of course, that doesn’t do much Read More
You’ve worked hard to provide your family and ensure that they’re taken care of, both now and after you’re gone. It’s only natural to want the best for your family — whether that’s your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews…whomever! And when you think of ways to take care of and want the best for your children, Read More
There are many aspects of “celebrity” that most of us will never encounter. Needing an entourage. Keeping track of multiple mansions or a private jet. Scheduling movie premieres. But estate planning is an area that’s critically important to all of us. And just as celebrities are in the news for their latest albums or movies, Read More
Research shows that more than half of Americans do not have a will. While they may not be the most popular element of planning for many, wills are critical components of estate planning. In particular, wills are especially important for parents. In a way, your will is the last thing you get to “say” to Read More
Americans are living longer than ever, and are living more vibrantly into retirement age than ever before. But with longer lives also comes increased cost and questions about how things will be taken care of when your need for care (and the ensuing expenses) increases. Enter long-term care. You may have encountered long-term care planning Read More
Every day, we meet with individuals and families for estate planning. Many of them share some variation of the following feedback: “We just never thought of it before…”. That’s an understandable reaction – estate planning isn’t a topic you hear about frequently on the news, and there’s often a misnomer attributing estate planning simply to Read More
We’ve all heard that the estate administration process can be a tedious disaster, but one particularly important area to consider is probate. Specifically, we advice our clients to avoid the probate process whenever possible. Avoiding Probate Makes Sense in Estate Administration Although understanding probate and it’s potential ramifications on your family and estate can be Read More
Certain individuals – especially grandparents – may have been through the estate planning process before. “Will – yep; Health Care Proxy – got it!; Power of Attorney – check and mate!!” Even though you may have your documents and plan in place, mistakes can still be made. Grandparents: Don’t Make These Critical Mistakes With Your Read More
In today’s world, convenience reigns as king. Whether it’s a fast food drive-thru, an automated machine that rents movies or a coffee maker that only makes one cup at a time, society now wants its products and services delivered as quickly and as conveniently as possible. Unfortunately, the legal profession is not immune to Read More
The death of a loved one and the administration of his or her estate can bring about extremely emotional and confusing times. Perhaps one of the most confusing facets of estate administration is the determining which assets will be distributed according to your loved one’s Last Will and Testament, and which assets will be distributed Read More
In New York State, parents of a person with an intellectual or developmental disability are deemed the Parent and Natural Guardian of that person until they turn 18. Once the disabled party has reached the age of 18, New York State law indicates that he/she is a competent adult who should be able to manage Read More
The world of estate administration is a scary place for many people. A loved one has just passed away and you find yourself in a financial mess of bank accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, creditors submitting claims against your loved one as well as a mountain of paperwork that needs to be completed. This Read More
Often times, the first meeting with an estate planning attorney is your first interaction with any attorney in your life. This can mean a sense of insecurity or just plain confusion about what to expect at their first meeting. “I’ve filled out the questionnaire and schedule my appointment, but what should we expect to Read More
Several weeks ago, I explained the basic “What” and “Why” of a Power of Attorney document in Part 1 of this blog series. My goal: To provide a basic understanding of the Power of Attorney document and why it’s extremely important for every family. In Part 2, I examined the basic powers granted in a Read More
I recently explained the basic “What” and “Why” to provide a basic understanding of the Power of Attorney document and why it’s extremely important for every family. I also shared a story about Joe and Doreen, a married couple without a Power of Attorney, to demonstrate how and why a POA can come into play Read More
If you’ve ever had an outpatient or inpatient medical procedure, chances are you’ve been asked if you have a health care proxy. If you’re in generally good health and are pretty young, you probably don’t have a health care proxy and haven’t really thought about one. Taking a few minutes to understand health care proxies, Read More
You’ve probably heard a message on TV or the radio touting the importance of having a Power of Attorney. Although it has been drilled into our heads that we need this document, many people don’t understand why we need it and what it actually does. As a result, many of us simply choose not to Read More
One of my goals for this blog is to correct misinformation and help families like yours understand how some of the technical law terminology you might hear actually affects you. I recently dug into the definition of a Health Care Proxy and how it affects your family. There is a common misconception among clients that Read More
Here’s a startling statistic >> 55% of Americans will die without a will or estate plan. It’s startling, but understandable. Most of us prefer not to think about what will happen to our estates when we pass away. Simultaneously though, most of us also worry about taking care of our families and ensuring they are Read More
Estate planning is a topic that can seem intimidating to many people. But the reality is that estate planning can be as complex or simple as you want it to be. At it’s simplest definition, estate planning is: The discussion and implementation of a plan that sets forth how your wealth will be distributed when Read More
Fifty-six percent of Americans do not have an up-to-date estate plan, an omission that puts millions of families and potentially billions of dollars at risk. This number is alarmingly high, and it simply doesn’t have to be that way. That’s why here at Restaino Reddien, we’re doing our part to help. Free services to get Read More
