The weeks after losing a spouse can bring difficult financial and legal responsibilities at a time when your attention is understandably elsewhere. Start by locating your spouse’s estate documents, identifying assets that may require probate or trust administration, and checking for legal or tax deadlines. Once the immediate matters are underway, you...
Estate Planning With Cooperative Apartments
A cooperative apartment is not considered real property, it is personal property. When you own a cooperative apartment, you own a stock and lease. These apartments can cause complexity with your estate plan, which one should be aware of.
If you wish to avoid probate, you would...
Asset Protection Strategies for New York Professionals and Business Owners
Professionals and business owners in New York can reduce the risk of losing personal assets by combining sound business practices with thoughtful legal and estate planning. The most effective asset protection strategies are put in place before a lawsuit, creditor claim, or financial dispute arises, giving you more options and stronger...
What to Do Upon the Death of a Loved One
Knowing in advance what to do when a loved one dies can help alleviate uncertainty and anxiety. Of course, funeral arrangements must be made quickly. One should order a sufficient number of death certificates, as there may be a delay...
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Benefits of Revocable Living Trusts for Snowbirds
A revocable living trust helps snowbirds manage their assets across New York and Florida without relying on multiple probate proceedings. It allows your plan to stay consistent even when your life is split between two states.
When you spend part of the year in each state, your estate plan...
Navigating the Snowbird’s Estate: Key Considerations for New York & Florida
Owning property or dividing your time between New York and Florida can affect how your estate plan works when it is needed. Each state has its own rules for wills, trusts, probate, and incapacity planning, and those differences can create delays or complications if your documents are not aligned.
Understanding Estate and Gift Taxes
Under federal law, each person can make tax-free gifts of up to $19,000 per person, per year. So as a married couple, you can give $ 38,000 per year to as many people as you want, usually without the necessity of filing a gift tax return. More importantly, these gifts...
3 Snowbird Must-Have Estate Planning Documents
If you split your time between Florida and New York, your estate plan needs to work across state lines. Snowbirds often run into trouble when documents are outdated, inconsistent, or not recognized during a medical or financial emergency in a different state.
Most snowbirds do not need complicated planning....
Estate Planning When You Have a Second Home
It is fairly common for New Yorkers to spend a few months in Florida or some other state. Whether you are heading to the Berskshires for the summer, or a warm destination in the winter, there are some relatively easy steps you should take in order to ensure that your...
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Understanding the Pros & Cons of IRA Accounts
IRA and other retirement accounts offer some very valuable tax advantages. While they are beneficial, in terms of providing a vehicle for saving for your later years, they also lower your income taxes and they grow tax-free. There are some disadvantages, which should be considered.
One problem...