Recent Blog Posts
What Is An Advance Directive?
No one likes to think about their final years, but at the same time, having an estate plan is crucial, so that you can ensure your wishes will be honored. One part of an estate plan that often gets overlooked, however – particularly by younger people – is what is known as an advance… Read More »
Talk Show Host Fights To Reclaim Her Rights After ‘Unjust’ Guardianship
Putnam County TV watchers may remember that in 2022, talk show host Wendy Williams was placed under a New York guardianship after her bank manager alleged that she was of “unsound mind.” Williams disputes that claim emphatically, and in recent months, has retained legal counsel to try and get the guardianship lifted. While discrepancies… Read More »
LGBTQ+ Estate Planning In New York
The U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, in its decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. However, court decisions can be reversed or overruled; if this happens, many LGBTQ+ spouses may find themselves locked out of several legal processes predicated on marriage. Estate planning is a major legal field in which blood relatives are… Read More »
Choosing Your New York Healthcare Proxy Agent
When the average person thinks about their eventual passing, they prefer to think of it happening at home, surrounded by loving family. Thankfully, this will be the case for many Mahopac residents, but it is all too common for someone to pass on while in a hospital or other medical facility after acute distress… Read More »
New York Asset Protection 101
For a long time, most people saw estate planning as making a will, with no other steps required. In reality, asset protection steps help anyone who has assets; given the potential quirks of the probate process in Westchester County, it can settle a person’s mind to know that their assets can be as guarded… Read More »
Do I Need A New York Power of Attorney?
No one wants to think about getting older, but it is one of the few things that cannot be avoided. As it happens, it is important to ensure that your finances and your well-being are both properly protected. Executing a New York power of attorney (POA) can be a good solution in many respects… Read More »
Misconceptions About Medicaid Long-Term Care Assistance
A recent government study estimates that someone over 65 today has roughly a 70 percent chance of needing some kind of long-term care at the end of their life. This can be an extremely rude awakening if a person has not done their research about how best to cover these costs. Medicaid is the… Read More »
Medicaid Estate Recovery In New York
There are millions of people in the United States who seek long-term medical care toward the ends of their lives, with a majority of that being paid for by Medicaid. Long-term care, particularly in nursing homes, can be quite expensive, and the majority of those in Putnam County simply lack the funds to pay… Read More »
Common Reasons to Update Your New York Will
A will is a critical legal document that ensures a person’s wishes regarding how their assets are distributed after they pass away are honored. However, a common mistake people make is drafting a will and then storing it away, never to think about it again. This can be problematic. In New York, like in… Read More »
What Happens if You Die Without a Will in New York?
The purpose of writing a last will and testament is primarily to control who gets your assets after you pass away. Who should inherit your house? Who should inherit your money? Who do you not want to get anything? But what happens if you die “intestate” – that is without a will? Some people… Read More »