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Category: Probate and Estates

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What to Know Before Adding a Child to Your Home Deed

Adding a child’s name to your deed can have significant consequences, particularly if you later need nursing home care and apply for Chronic Medicaid. Medicaid eligibility rules are complex, and transfers of property can directly affect whether benefits are approved.

February 18, 2026
Trusts and Chronic Medicaid

My father is about to enter a nursing facility. He may have to spenddown some of his money in order to qualify for Medicaid. I was told that he could pre-pay his own funeral and he may be able to pay for his children’s funeral as well. Is this true?

July 8, 2016
Can I Resign or Decline Being an Executor?

My sister recently passed away and I just found out that I was named executor of her Will. I am really busy with my job and family and really do not want to serve. Can I decline or resign from being executor?

July 6, 2016
Who Inherits My Estate If I Die Without a Will

I am unmarried and have no children. My parents are deceased and I have one sibling, a sister. I currently have no will. Who would inherit from my estate if I died without a will?

April 16, 2016
Do I Need a Will to Go Through the Probate Process?

Do all Wills have to go through probate?

March 18, 2016
2016 New York State Estate Tax Update

I read somewhere that the New York State Estate Tax Exemption was increasing again this year, could you explain this to me?

February 8, 2016
Credit Card Debts of Decedent

My mother passed away with $20,000 in credit card debt. As the Executor of her estate, am I liable for these bills?

January 20, 2016
What Is an Inventory of Assets?

I am the Executor of my father’s Estate. The Surrogate’s Court has asked me to provide them with an “Inventory of Assets”. What is an Inventory of Assets?

April 12, 2015
New NY Estate Tax Law

New York’s Estate Tax law has just seen its most dramatic change in recent memory. Finally, the exemption has increased from $1,000,000.00 where it has remained since 2002, with the exemption set to increase annually until it matches the federal estate tax exemption in 2019.

April 21, 2014
Estate Recovery and Homestead

Individuals who have received benefits under the New York State Medicaid program are subject to estate recovery for all assets passing through their probate estate. This is a minimum requirement under Federal Law.

January 17, 2014