A recent survey posted on The Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch website found that while Americans believe that estate planning and wills are important, they do not have the documents in place for themselves. Residents of Queens and Brooklyn, particularly those owning homes, should not leave the disposition of their assets…
New York law provides for many requirements regarding inheritance and Last Wills. The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has discussed that when a person dies without a Last Will, his or her estate is distributed to the distributees or “next of kin”. New York Estates, Powers and Trusts Law section…
In Stern v. Marshall, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled against the estate of Anna Nicole Smith, who had married a Texas oil tycoon 63 years her senior a year before he died, The New York Times reports. What this case illustrates is the importance of hiring an experienced New…
Planning a New York estate requires that all family beneficiary and asset information be obtained and thoroughly reviewed. Before considering the impact of estate or income taxes, a road-map should be created that provides for the concise disposition of assets to specifically named or identified beneficiaries. The New York Probate…
The proper execution or signing of a Last Will in New York requires that the formalities provided by statute be followed. The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has previously discussed these rules. The basic “formal requirements” for the signing and witnessing of a Will are set forth in Estates, Powers…
Barron’s recently published an article regarding the five of the most common ways problems arise when establishing a trust, illustrating the importance of hiring an experienced New York Trust and Estates Lawyer. Estate planning can be intimidating because it is a complex area of law that can bring stress to…
CNN recently reported about a woman whose aunt gave nearly her entire estate of $300,000 to Family Radio, the non-profit California station that broadcast unsuccessful predictions about the end of the world. Contested wills in New York probate court can be difficult because they require specific requirements other than a…
The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has talked about many different situations where disputes and competing interests among family members can arise. For example, when a person prepares his or her estate plan many decisions must be made regarding the details and provisions in documents such as a Last Will,…
The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has discussed many issues concerning New York Article 81 Guardianship proceedings. These issues included the appointment process for a Guardian and the powers that are given to a Guardian by the Court. Section 81.02 of the Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) provides that the Court…
New York Probate Lawyer Blog has already touched on the fascinating case of 104-year-old heiress Huguette Clark, who died recently in New York City. What makes the situation unique is that Clark, who inherited a giant fortune from her father, a copper baron and one of the richest Americans at…