Our Blog

Many families enjoy giving financial gifts to their children or grandchildren during the holidays. Whether it’s helping with education, starting a savings fund, or simply sharing some year-end generosity, it’s important to understand how these gifts fit into your overall estate and tax planning.

You should know that anyone can nominate you as executor of his or her Will, but there are many factors that determine whether acting as executor will be a smoothly paved road or a bumpy one.

Most of us think of an inheritance as a good thing—something you would never dream of turning down. But believe it or not, there are times when saying “no, thanks” to an inheritance actually makes sense.

Choosing whether to make gifts during life versus after death depends on your goals and circumstances.

As our lives become more connected to technology, planning for digital property has become just as important as planning for tangible assets.

The probate process can be lengthy, especially when a complex family tree is involved. Thankfully, the Surrogate’s Court provides a simplified alternative for “small estates,” through a process called Voluntary Administration.

Minors cannot be left assets outright in New York. Minor beneficiaries must inherit in trust. If a minor inherits outright, a guardian must be appointed by the Surrogate's Court.

Many people think that once they sign a will or a trust, all of their assets will follow those instructions. The truth is that certain accounts do not go by what your will says.

Without a succession plan, a business owner’s family and/or co-owners are forced to make quick and stressful decisions. Having a procedure in place is invaluable.

MOLST forms and DNRs should be a topic of discussion when considering your advance directives, but it’s crucial to note that they are not legal documents.