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Category: Probate and Estates

Latest News

Can You Still Qualify for Community Medicaid If You Exceed the Income Limit?

Many families assume that if an older adult's monthly income exceeds Medicaid's income limit, they are automatically disqualified from receiving Medicaid home care. In reality, that is one of the most common misconceptions in elder law.

July 27, 2026
Avoiding Probate with an Affidavit

When someone in New York State dies with a small amount of money, the family may be able to avoid probate by using a “1310”, or small estate affidavit. This affidavit may be used by certain family members or the decedent’s creditors to collect assets up to a certain value in the decedent’s sole name.

September 14, 2020
Ancillary Probate: What it is and How to Avoid it

Question: My mother is a resident of Florida and owns a condominium and several financial accounts in her sole name. She also owns a summer home in New York that is titled in her sole name. If she were to pass away, what is the procedure to transfer the New York home after her death?

September 11, 2020
Probate Estate v. Gross Estate

Question: Someone told me that assets with named beneficiaries are not subject to estate tax, is that correct?

August 11, 2020
Bonding of an Estate Fiduciary

Question: I was recently appointed Administrator of my uncle’s estate, but the Decree from the Surrogate’s Court said that I must post a bond. What does that mean?

July 25, 2020
Is it Too Late To Elect Portability?

The estate tax concept tax known as “portability” is permanent as a result of the enactment of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. Portability allows a surviving spouse to use a deceased spouse’s unused estate tax exclusion (up to $11.4 million in 2020/$11.7 million in 2021).

July 17, 2020
Consenting to the Probate of a Will

Question: My mother recently passed away and I received something in the mail called a “Waiver of Process; Consent to Probate”, what does this document mean?

June 5, 2020
The Duties of an Administrator/Executor

Question: My loved one passed away and someone needs to clean out her home, who is in charge of that?

May 22, 2020
Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court Update

As of Monday, May 18, 2020, any uncontested probate, administration and small estate matter involving an individual who passed away due to COVID-19 related causes is deemed an essential matter.

May 21, 2020
Duties of an Estate Fiduciary

The executor is a fiduciary of the estate and must administer the estate in accordance with the decedent’s wishes as stated in the will. Generally, the duties of an executor are as follows:

May 9, 2020
Transfer of a Motor Vehicle to the Surviving Spouse

Question: My husband passed away a couple of months ago. All of our assets were held jointly except for one of our cars, which was held in his sole name. The car is worth about $20,000.00. What do I need to do to transfer the car into my name? Do I need to go to Court?

May 6, 2020