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…
PAPER PAPER EVERYWHERE Do you have boxes of cancelled checks from the 1970s? The receipt for a dishwasher you bought 11 years ago? Papers for a car you sold 5 years ago? Little Sally’s 4th grade report card? Wouldn’t you love to throw all that away? How much of this paper are you supposed to…
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:…
WHAT NOT TO DO IN YOUR ESTATE PLAN We frequently discuss good estate planning practices in this column, but here are some things that you absolutely should not do when drafting your will or trust: Settle Scores With a limited exception for spouses, no one has the legal right to inherit from you. You…
PRESS RELEASE For more information, contact: Michele Babcock, Managing Partner J&G LLP, 845-764-9656 J&G Attorneys Selected to Present Continuing Education to Dutchess County Board of Realtors WALDEN, N.Y. – Two attorneys at the law firm of J&G, LLP (J&G) were selected to present a continuing education course to the Dutchess County Board of Realtors. On…
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PAYING FOR NURSING HOME CARE The time period in which an elderly loved one goes to a skilled nursing facility can be one of the most emotionally wrought and challenging experiences for a family. Unfortunately, one of the most stressful aspects of the ordeal is how the nursing home bills are…
What is a Will and Why Does Everyone Need One A Last Will and Testament is a document that states your final wishes. Every Will must be submitted to the Surrogate’s Court after death so the Court can determine if it is valid and enforceable. This is the procedure known as “probate.” Your closest family…
THE VALUE OF REVIEWING YOUR ESTATE PLAN If you have executed a will or trust, you should be commended, as you are already in a more prepared category than most Americans. But you should not let it sit and be forgotten. There Is value in reviewing your estate plan at least every three to five…
NEW POWER OF ATTORNEY RULES TAKING EFFECT IN NEW YORK On June 13, 2021, the law in New York pertaining to powers of attorney will be changing. It is widely felt that the current requirements are cumbersome and unreasonable, making the document “prone to improper execution.” The law revisions are intended to make the document…
