You may know that “legal guardian” is a phrase can be applied to a parent for their child, but it can also be applied towards an elderly or disabled person. Guardianship is a court appointment of a guardian to manage the personal and/or financial affairs of a person who cannot manage for him or herself [...]
Recently, the Social Security Administration has announced a 2.8 percent increase in benefits in 2019. This increase is the largest yearly boost since 2012. The change will give an extra $468 annually to the average retired beneficiary. With the costs of living, as well as the costs of medical care, rising, this increase can help [...]
Surrogate's Court is a special type of court where proceedings are focused around the estate of a deceased individual. It is up to the Surrogate's Court to ensure that the deceased’s creditors are paid and that the remainder of the individual’s estate is distributed either pursuant to the term of the deceased party's Last Will [...]
Millions of elderly people in the United States are subjected to Elder Abuse each year. Whether such abuse occurs in their own homes, assisted living facilities or nursing home facilities, it is important to be able to identify signs of abuse that your loved one might be exhibiting. Identifying potential signs of abuse can help [...]
Many movies show a character trying to receive a trust or an inheritance by achieving a specific goal set by the deceased. In movies it is often to get married or finish college. Trusts like these are actually real and not just something Hollywood came up with. In reality, you can set Incentive Trusts for [...]
This article was written for the "The Record of Law & Commerce" (Volume 82, No. 45) on Thursday, November 29, 2018.
After the death of a loved one, there are a lot of things to take care of from funeral arrangements to notifying the family, closing accounts, and reading of the Will. But one thing many family members overlook or forget about is the updating of their own Wills. Once everything is taken care of with [...]
Some people think it is morbid to write up a Will; however, it is too important to avoid having one, especially if you are a parent. You should update your Will after major life changes such as marriage or the birth of a child. As a parent, a Will is the best way to ensure [...]
Living Wills are supposed to protect our wishes in the event that you are unable to respond or react in a health emergency. Unfortunately, that may not be enough in an ER situation, if the nurses and doctors are unaware of the laws. When is a Living Will in Effect? A Living Will is a [...]
About one in four new marriages in New York City is a same sex marriage. Under the Marriage Equality Act, gay and lesbian couples can benefit from a variety of different estate plans. Inheritance, Retirement, Trusts, Medicaid coverage and more can be afforded to your spouse now that these laws are in place. There are [...]
