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Last month many in the entertainment world were shocked and saddened by the sudden death of New Yorker James Gandolfini at the age of 51. His passing from an apparent heart attack is a somber reminder that none of us know for sure what the future holds. This week reports…
Our NY estate planning lawyers frequently advise local residents that in virtually all cases the single best way to prepare for possible senior care needs is by purchasing long-term care insurance (LTCI). Unfortunately, the biggest barrier for most families in securing LTCI is cost. Depending on one’s age when purchasing…
Does the high-profile U.S. Supreme Court opinion in Windsor v. US related to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) affect elder law issues? It might. As discussed in a new release from a long-term care insurance think tank, the Supreme Court’s ruling will have an effect on same sex couples…
When someone passes away, the basic principles of settling the estate seem straightforward: collect assets, pay off debts, and distribute what is remaining per the deceased’s wishes. While that cursory sketch appears easy enough, in practice, dealing with these matters can take years, have a significant cost, and result in…
If you read a bit about estate planning you may come across the term “Per Stirpes.” It is an awkward phrase to say, and there is little reason to use it outside the context of inheritance planning. It comes up when one lays out their inheritance designations, perhaps with a…
Elder financial exploitation is often one of those problems that community members believe only happens to “other people.” When reading stories about seniors falling for scams or being exploited by caregivers it is easy to view them as one-of-a-kind examples. But the truth is the exact opposite: elder financial exploitation…
Whether one is married or single is obviously a vital factor that impacts elder law and estate planning. Of course, that placed married New York same-sex couple in a strange position, as they were married under New York law, but single under federal law. As mentioned yesterday,with the U.S. Supreme…
You’ve built a nest egg after years of consistent work, prudent planning, strategic risk, a lot of focus, and a bit of luck. You want to retire peacefully and provide a legacy that will hopefully secure some degree of wealth for you family for generations to come. But what are…
In an effort to more efficiently use state funds, over the past few years the New York Medicaid program has been closely analyzed by state groups looking to root out fraud. Those investigations have returned hundreds of millions of dollars back into the programs following problematic practices at New York…
One of the most common questions that local families ask related to estate planning and assets protection involve gifts: Whether to give them, when to give, how much, and in what form. Of course, no two situations are identical, and so it is impossible to list a set of rules…