The appointment of a Guardian for an incapacitated person is provided by the guidelines enacted in Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law (MHL). The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has discussed many of the aspects involved in New York City Guardianship cases such as Guardianship powers and the petition…
New York Probate Lawyer Blog
The New York Probate Process Involves Numerous Documents
The Probate of a Last Will in New York can appear to be a complicated and mysterious procedure. While the rules and procedures of the Surrogate’s Court are complex, certain fundamental requirements for Probate are fairly easy to set forth. Among the essential aspects to a Probate proceeding is providing…
New York Article 81 Guardians Are Bound By The Court To Act Properly
The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has discussed the powers and obligations of a property management and personal needs Guardian. When a person is found to be incapacitated and a Guardian is appointed, the Court maintains scrutiny over the actions of the Guardian. One of the safeguards provided by Article…
Properly Naming Beneficiaries of Retirement Accounts Critical to New York Estate Planning
As part of our ongoing series on Avoiding Probate in New York, we examine the issue of retirement accounts and beneficiaries. As always, we preface the discussion by saying that avoiding probate does not mean you do not need a New York City probate lawyer. In fact, investing in professional…
Contested Will Results in Settlement after Undue Influence Alleged with Dementia Patient
The beneficiaries of the estate of a wealthy Connecticut woman have agreed to settle a dispute over changes made to her Will after she was diagnosed with dementia, Bloomberg News reported. Sadly, theft from the elderly and other forms of estate fraud are an all-too-common occurrence. A New York City…
New York Estate Fiduciaries and Guardians Must Consider Internet Information and Assets
New York Executors, Administrators and Guardians have the responsibility of ascertaining, protecting and collecting the assets, documents and other effects of the estate or incapacitated person they are appointed to oversee. The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has previously discussed fiduciary responsibility concerning asset determination and protection. An interesting aspect…
Federal Estate Tax Changes Affect New York Estates
The Federal estate tax ceased to exist in the year 2010. At least for most of the year it seemed that the estate of a person who died in 2010 would not be subject to any Federal estate tax. However, since other provisions relating to the estate tax, particularly, “step-up”…
Complications May Arise From Estate Settlement Outside New York Probate
As we discuss the pros and cons of avoiding probate court that certainly does not mean you will not need the help of a probate lawyer in New York City. As part of our ongoing series on estate settling options, we reported on our New York Probate Lawyer Blog that…
Payable-on-Death Accounts one Option for Distributing Estate Funds in New York
Consulting a New York City probate attorney is always the best option when establishing estate plans, executing a Will or deciding upon the best course of action for distributing your estate after your passing. For some, probate court is a good option. Others may choose estate planning options that permit…
New York Guardianship Property Transfers Require Court Approval And Review
The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has previously discussed numerous aspects concerning the appointment and duties of an Article 81 personal needs and property management Guardian. Very often the assets of the incapacitated person includes real property such as a home. It may become necessary for the Guardian to sell…