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How Divorce and Remarriage Can Affect Your Estate Plan

June 7, 2017

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

Why an Estate Plan is NOT a Financial Plan

May 30, 2017

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

student loans

Ask the Estate Planning Attorney: What Happens to My Student Loans When I Die?

May 23, 2017

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

estate planning lessons

4 Estate Planning Lessons From Celebrities

May 9, 2017

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

estate planning services

Why You Shouldn’t Wait for Estate Planning

March 23, 2017

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

Mistakes with Wills for Grandparents

Three Mistakes Grandparents Make With Their Wills

January 28, 2017

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

estate planning lawyers

How “Convenience” Can Compromise Your Estate Planning Wishes

January 4, 2017

  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

estate administration

Estate Administration: A Beginner’s Guide

December 9, 2016

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

estate planning attorney

What To Expect When You’re Expecting…To Meet With an Estate Planning Attorney

December 2, 2016

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

Power of Attorney Modifications

Power of Attorney: Part 3 >> Important PoA Modifications

November 25, 2016

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