Probate court helps to ensure that families follow an estate plan created by a testator. They can also help families manage the distribution of resources when an individual dies without an estate plan. The probate courts provide oversight and also create an...
When someone dies in New York, probate is likely necessary. The average person may have a difficult time understanding what probate is and why it is necessary. Smaller estates are sometimes eligible for streamlined probate proceedings, but the estate must have a...
Estate planning is a deeply personal process that often requires someone to go into great detail about their preferences for their legacy. Testators creating or updating wills, trusts and similar documents often need to fixate on specific types of property, such as...
Some adults create thorough estate plans that rely on trusts and special paperwork to transfer property when they die. When successful, these complex plans can allow someone's estate to bypass probate court entirely. Frequently, at least some of a person's property...
When someone is subject to a guardianship in New York, the person in the role of guardian has usually presented a strong case in court showing that the adult requires the support of a guardian. Financial blunders and medical records are common evidence in guardianship...
If you have a child who has a developmental disability, there is the potential that they may need ongoing support well into adulthood. Especially in the later teenage years and early adulthood, many teen and adult children with developmental disabilities rely on their...
When you’re involved in estate planning, one of the things that comes up is the need for a guardianship. If you have children, then guardianships may be used to define who would take care of them if you could no longer do so. Guardianships aren’t just for children,...
The loss of a parent, spouse or loved one is rarely easy even under the best of circumstances. Ideally, the deceased worked with an experienced estate law attorney to draft a thoughtful will or trust, but there may still be delays in the probate process regardless of...
For New Yorkers who are well-known and wealthy, it is important to keep track of how estate plans can spark a legal dispute among heirs if the document is not crafted properly. Prominent entertainers bring joy to their fans and earn large sums of money for their...
If a loved one died and appointed an executor that you do not believe is up to the task, it can be difficult to speak up. However, as a beneficiary you have a right to contest the choice of executor in order to protect the estate. The importance of the right choice An...
