Estate Planning: Fiduciary Roles Explained

At its best, estate planning addresses goals related to both our own well-being as we age, and the designation of assets–be they modest or many–for beneficiaries. The ultimate success of estate plans rests with the fiduciaries named to carry them...

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Personal Representative?

  When we die, someone has to bring our affairs to closure. This is true whether we have left a will, a trust, or, die without a plan. The name for this role differs depending on location and circumstance. Here...

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18 and Up?

Simply put, everyone from the age of 18 on up needs an estate plan: the tools that will arm our loved ones to attend to our affairs. Ideally, they won’t need these legal documents for a very long time—but when...

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Co-ops, Trusts and Special Needs?

Families of children with special needs have extra to worry about in life—and estate planning. What happens, for example, if a family intends to leave a co-op apartment to an adult child with special needs? Hmm! Though possible, it’s not...

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First Responder? Estate Planning Jumpstart

  Estate planning is extra important for those who take on the high risks of being a first responder, such as firefighters, law enforcement officers, and paramedics. In addition to on-the job crisis, first responders may be faced with chronic...

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Estate Law: SCPA 2103 Proceeding?

  A fiduciary charged with overseeing the affairs of an estate, such as the executor, representative or administrator, must safeguard the assets on behalf of the beneficiaries. In New York, if the fiduciary believes assets have been misappropriated, a legal...

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Estate Planning: Don’t Forget…

  If you are proactively creating a plan for what ultimately happens to your assets and other valuables you care about, good for you! Your loved ones will be so thankful to have less to worry about during their time...

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Estate Planning: Life In Multiple States?

  Although the “snowbird life”—enjoying different times of year in different states—was a thing way before pandemic induced disruptions, new remote lifestyles have made it more possible then ever to live life from two or more locations. When it comes...

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Understanding Undue Influence

  What constitutes undue influence in an estate plan? What are some of the reasons why beneficiaries might challenge an estate plan over undue influence? How do different states handle claims of undue influence? Read on for answers from attorneys...

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Estate Plans: It Takes a Village

  By it’s very nature, creating—and periodically updating, an estate plan requires us to involve others. Importantly, for example, when young children are involved, a guardian must be designated. Wills rely on personal representatives, typically referred to as executors, and...

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