What is Probate? In New York State, an Executor nominated under a will needs to petition the court in order to receive Letters Testamentary so that they can act. The Executor will use the Letters to obtain and gather the assets of the estate. An Executor is mainly responsible for paying the debts of the…




Important Legal Issues Facing Seniors Will You Need Community Medicaid? Community Medicaid covers care and medical services that will enable an applicant to continue living on their own, as opposed to living in a nursing home; in other words, applicants will remain in the community. It is available to eligible New York residents who are living…




NEW YORK CANNABIS DISPENSARY LICENSES ARE NOW AVAILABLE The Office of Cannabis Management has opened the application process for New Yorkers interested in opening a cannabis dispensary. Initially, 150 licenses will be issued throughout New York State, 17 of which are available for locations in the Mid-Hudson region. The license authorizes the license holder to…




IS YOUR ONLINE WILL VALID? With promises of producing the exact forms that you need, for an unbelievable price, and in a matter of minutes, it’s no wonder that many people are opting for online services for their estate planning needs instead of seeking advice from a qualified attorney. A Last Will and Testament can…




Estate Plan Exclusions The majority of estate plans that we prepare at our law firm leave assets to clients’ children in equal shares. Some clients make wills, and others create trusts. Some seek to keep assets protected from long-term care and nursing home costs or to minimize estate taxes. But generally the objective is to…




MEDICARE VERSUS MEDICAID IN THE NURSING HOME SETTING When we talk about Medicaid asset protection, I often hear from clients “but I already have Medicare,” or “I have money, so I’ll never qualify for Medicaid.” But in the context of chronic care, there’s a lot of nuance to these issues. Here are the key differences:…



