Estate planning is a complex issue, not only legally and financially, but emotionally. Although planning for your retirement may be fun, planning for your possible incapacity and inevitable death can be daunting. Also, it is difficult to be completely rational about such emotionally laden matters. This is why having a skilled and compassionate...

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly one in five people have special needs, which means that a large number of families have a member in this category: child, adolescent, young or middle-aged adult, or elderly person. For special needs individuals who are unable to work or support themselves, the government provides disability...

There are many reasons why a client would want to leave their retirement accounts (IRA's, 401k's, TDA's, etc.) in a trust for the benefit of their heirs.  For example, if a beneficiary is under the age of eighteen (18), he/she can not legally inherit.  In addition, if the retirement accounts are sizable, most people...

One of the primary services an estate planning attorney provides is assisting clients in creating trusts. While some believe that trusts are only useful for the wealthy, in

The most important reason to have a will prepared is so that the laws of intestacy do not control the disposition of your assets. Put simply, if one dies without a will, the laws of the state one resides in determines who inherits. For example, in New York, if one dies leaving only a...

A durable power of attorney is a document which gives someone broad powers over your financial affairs.  Especially as one gets older, this document becomes a necessary evil.  Why is it evil?  By its nature, a power of attorney gives control to a person of your choosing to transact business on your behalf.  It...

While the probate process is usually quite simple and straightforward in New York, that is not the case in Florida.  What is probate and why does probate become necessary?  When a person passes away, there needs to be a legal mechanism for transferring assets from the deceased person to the deceased person's heirs.  Usually,...

Clients often ask me, when they are moving to the State of Florida, or considering such a move, whether the wills which they have prepared in New York need to redone.  Assuming the wills were properly drafted and executed in accordance with New York law, then the wills are valid in Florida, and in...

Clients often think that putting their children's names on their savings accounts, brokerage accounts, real estate and other assets, will accomplish tax savings and protect the assets in the event they need long-term health care.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  While putting a child's name as a joint owner on an asset...

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act passed by Congress and signed into law at the end of 2017 contains some very significant changes to the federal estate and gift tax laws. For one, the unified credit for estate and gift tax–the amount you can give cumulatively during your lifetime or which you can leave...