BEING MARRIED MAY NOT MEAN WHAT YOU THINK WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR ESTATE People frequently assume that having a spouse means that your assets will all go to him/her if you die intestate (without a will), and conversely, if you do have a will, you can leave your assets to anyone that you want….
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:…
REMOTE ONLINE NOTARIZATION MAKES A PERMANENT RETURN TO NEW YORK In March 2020, remote online notarization was introduced to New York as part of an array of gubernatorial Executive Orders to reduce the need for in-person meetings during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The order permitted any documents that would require a standard in-person notary to…
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…
PROS AND CONS OF ESTATE PLANNING OPTIONS Which estate plan is right for you? Here is an infographic created to highlight some of the pros and cons of estate planning options available. If you have questions about your options, please contact Michael Wagner, Esq. to review these and other options with you. He offers free,…
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…
10 STEPS TO SETTLING AN ESTATE Losing a friend or family member is always challenging. Serving as the executor or trustee of their estate plan is a wonderful way to honor them and carry out their wishes. But it can be a long and taxing process. Here’s how to do it right: (1) Talk to…
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…
CONVERSATIONS AND DOCUMENTS EVERY SENIOR SHOULD HAVE Are you a senior? Have you had “that conversation?” Yes, “that conversation,” the one that you should have with someone who is, or perhaps several people who are, near and dear to you and younger than you. Yes, “that conversation,” about personal and intimate details of your life….
