Estate Administration & Probate

In our last post, we highlighted a few signs that a will could be forged. Forgeries are a critical legal basis for will contests. If a will is found to be forged, it could be held to be invalid because the forgery does not accurately or legally express the testator’s...

It is natural to be skeptical about a will that distributes property in an unconscionable manner. If an elderly loved one inexplicably leaves a majority of their estate to someone they hardly know, a new advisor with a sketchy past or a new, significantly younger...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

In a prior post, we highlighted the likelihood that an elderly parent will spend their golden years in a nursing home if they had children. We wrote that those who had kids, especially daughters, were less likely to be moved to a home. Even with that sentiment, there...