Category Archives: Estate Planning
Gifts and Estate Planning In New York
When a person is creating their estate plan, gifts to friends and loved ones are often contemplated and made during the donor’s lifetime. This is known as giving an inter vivos gift – ‘inter vivos’ meaning ‘between living people.’ One might think that simply giving gifts would be easy – but legally, it can… Read More »
Estate Planning With A Disabled Beneficiary Can Be Complex
When a person is planning their estate in Westchester County or Putnam County, it is something that should be taken very seriously. This is doubly true for those with disabled beneficiaries. A person may simply want to gift to a disabled person – out of a wish to support them, to pay for medical… Read More »
Life Estate Deeds & Medicaid Planning
Medicaid planning is the process by which a person divests themselves of assets in order to qualify for Medicaid-paid long-term care. It can be difficult to plan appropriately for Medicaid eligibility, because Medicaid requires a person not to have many assets in their own name, while most people want to preserve as many assets… Read More »
Changing My New York Will
As most people get older, they start to think about who will receive their assets when they are no longer alive to enjoy them. Estate planning attorneys can assist anyone who is interested in ensuring that their wishes are honored legally. The foundational document that most people use to start their estate plan is… Read More »
When Is Probate Necessary?
Most of the time, a person in Westchester County seeks the help of an attorney when they want to avoid the probate process, given that probate can be a long, drawn-out experience. With the help of an attorney, it is possible to structure your estate so that it does not have to go through… Read More »
Frequently Asked Questions About New York Medicaid
Medicaid is the federal program responsible for helping New York seniors be able to afford long-term nursing home care. It is important to understand that it does not come without a cost. The entire process can be overwhelming and confusing to the average person, especially someone who has a fair number of assets. An… Read More »
Proper Planning To Avoid A Health Crisis
It is too common for an elderly person to not have a proper estate plan in place. The worst-case scenario for an elderly person is finding out that they need nursing home care immediately – or very soon – and then realizing that they are not eligible for Medicaid to fund that care. Given… Read More »
Will A Supplemental Needs Trust Affect Medicaid Eligibility?
A trust, in Westchester County, is a legal instrument that grants control over certain assets belonging to one person to a trustee, to use or distribute according to the owner’s instructions. A supplemental or “special” needs trust (SNT) is one that is created for the benefit of a disabled person, while being structured in… Read More »
New York’s Medicaid Look-Back Period
Most people in Westchester County and Putnam County tend to think that they will not qualify for Medicaid because they have too many assets; Medicaid is usually seen as a program for lower-income households. In reality, when a person comes to a point where they need long-term care, they will almost certainly have to… Read More »
Is It Legal To Disinherit A Family Member?
No one likes to contemplate leaving a family member out of their estate planning if there is an alternative. Sadly, sometimes there is not. There are several reasons why a person may want to disinherit someone who was once a potential heir. The majority of those reasons will not be against the law in… Read More »