You may pride yourself on having close relationships with many of your family members. You may act as a confidant, caretaker, friend or other role needed at any given time. Because of your strong bonds, your loved ones may have discussed their end-of-life wishes with...
PROVEN LEGAL COUNSEL
For Estate Planning, Estate Administration And Disputes
Year: 2017
Predictions for luxury rentals in 2018
As we near the end of 2017, the old adage “the more things change, the more they stay the same” has some added meaning. Towards the end of 2016, a slew of luxury and high-end residences remained unoccupied as many potential buyers and renters presumably were...
Can you avoid probate when administering an estate?
The probate process in New York is geared to be an orderly process in which the assets of a person who has recently passed away may be legally transferred to the person’s beneficiaries. While this process should be simple, it oftentimes is not. Essentially, disputes...
The basics of tax deductible estate administration costs
It may be a bittersweet feeling to be chosen as a person’s executor. This largely means that you have garnered the respect and trust of the person (and their family) whose estate you are tasked to divide according to the person’s wishes. But like the old adage “with...
Competing claims for Charles Manson’s estate
It is not surprising that little fanfare was made over the death of notorious cult leader Charles Manson when he passed away in October. After all, he was the personification of evil in America ever since he and several others were sentenced to life in prison for...
Does your estate plan include assets in another country?
No matter how long you have been in the United States, a little piece of you belongs to your home country. After all, you probably have childhood memories and perhaps even family who still live in your native town. If you also own property there, you may have...
Three tips for holiday estate planning discussions
For most people (and retailers), Thanksgiving is the gateway to the holiday season. This means that many gatherings involving family and friends will take place between now and the New Year. As we have noted in prior posts, family gatherings are prime opportunities to...
Mental disorders to consider in will contests
In a prior post, we noted the various reasons people initiate will contests. It is our experience that the lack of testamentary capacity is the primary reason for these lawsuits. Essentially, those who believe they were left out of a will or were left with much less...
Estate planning lessons from Hugh Hefner
Since Hugh Hefner’s death last month, much has been said (or at least debated) over how the founder of Playboy magazine should be remembered, especially in the wake of rampant sexual harassment allegations in Hollywood. To some, Hefner was a visionary who...
Do I have grounds to challenge my loved one’s will?
It is always difficult when a loved one passes away, but it can be extremely difficult when there are complications over the estate of your loved one. Whether you did not get the inheritance you expected, feel surprised by the terms of the will or believe that you...