Category Archives: Estate Planning
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 »
Explaining New York Estate Taxes
For many people, one of the most disagreeable elements of handling an elderly loved one’s affairs is the thought of dealing with estate taxes, particularly in dealing with inheritance. While New York does not have an inheritance tax, it does have estate taxes, levied upon a person’s estate once they have passed away. It… Read More »
How Easy Is It To Change Your New York Will?
As one moves into the part of life where estate planning becomes more important, making a will becomes one of the most crucial things many can do. A will is one of the foundational documents of estate planning. Despite this fact, many older people do not want to make one for fear that they… Read More »
Is A Trust Right For Your Elderly Loved One?
No one wants to think about estate planning, but it becomes increasingly necessary as people age. In the United States in particular, it is crucial to approach estate planning with the realization that you may need long-term care, as Medicaid will only cover such care for those with small amounts of assets. A living… Read More »
When Is A Guardianship Appropriate For Your Elderly Loved One?
No one likes to be told that they need help managing their own affairs, but it is simply a fact of life that many of us will require it. If you have an elderly loved one that you believe may require some help, New York law allows family members to step in and request… Read More »
Changing Your New York Will After “Gray” Divorce
In days past, it was much more common for people to remain married until the end of their lives, whether out of love, loyalty, or an inability to escape. Nowadays, so-called ‘gray divorce’ is more common in the United States, with the rate for those over age 50 remaining high in recent years while… Read More »
Advance Directives vs Power Of Attorney
No one wants to think about their own mortality, but as we age, it becomes more and more important. If a sudden medical event happens to us, most of us are not in a position to then start planning for long-term medical care or financial adjustments. One of the cornerstones of a strong estate… Read More »