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While no two estates are the same, especially when the courts are involved, understanding the different steps of the process can give you an idea of what to expect and how significant your time investment may be.

When a party to a lawsuit dies, the court with jurisdiction over the lawsuit should pause the action until a representative is appointed for the decedent's estate.

A trust may contain the correct tax provisions, beneficiary protections, and fiduciary instructions, but the plan only works if the right assets are actually connected to the trust.

While guardianship may be appropriate in certain cases, it is a court-supervised process that can limit an individual’s ability to make decisions. As a result, alternatives are often considered where appropriate.

New York’s 529 College Savings Program accounts are investment plans that enjoy tax-deferred growth. Withdrawals are income tax-free for qualified educational purposes associated with K-12 tuition, vocational school, college, or higher education.

Having an experienced elder law attorney overseeing the Medicaid application and recertification processes can better one’s chance of achieving and maintaining Medicaid eligibility. 

A citation is a notice from the Court, requesting that you make an appearance in a pending proceeding. In Surrogate’s Court, this typically means that a Will is being offered for probate, or someone is seeking authority to act in an estate where you are a necessary party.

When one spouse requires nursing home care, Medicaid recognizes that the other spouse is still living in the community and still needs financial support.

While cash assets held in checking and savings accounts can be more straightforward to transfer to an estate, navigating a decedent’s interest in shares of stock can be a daunting task.

Tax season is typically focused on reviewing the financial events of the past year, while estate planning is designed to prepare for the future. Although these areas may seem separate, they often overlap.