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Ensuring Your Will Adapts To Life’s Changes

Creating a will provides a semblance of control over the unknown and reassures us that our loved ones will be taken care of. If you executed your Wills in the 1990s, they would generally still hold validity today.

October 6, 2023
Guiding Your Executor: Navigating the Probate Process and Exploring Options

When you’ve taken the crucial step of drafting a Will, it’s equally vital to prepare your chosen executor for what lies ahead. Informing them ahead of time ensures a smoother process during what can be a challenging period.

October 2, 2023
Navigating Trust Tax Returns: What You Need to Know

When diving into the world of trusts, a frequently asked question revolves around the tax implications: “Does my trust need to file a tax return?” The answer isn’t always straightforward and hinges on several factors related to the structure of the trust.

October 2, 2023
Essential Estate Planning for You and Your Parents

Britt Burner discusses the importance of basic estate planning documents for all generations, including health care proxies, durable power of attorneys and last will and testaments for both your own planning as well as aging family members.

November 16, 2022
What steps should I take with my loved one’s estate and my own planning?

Whenever a loved one passes, especially one that was depended on, it is often difficult for one to even consider the next steps, yet alone know what those steps are.

July 20, 2022
How Often Should I Update My Financial & Legal Documents?

You should be checking on your accounts as often as you review your estate plan. In general, we recommend an estate plan review every three to five years. Any change in life circumstances or family, or changes in the law, will warrant a review of your plan as well.

July 8, 2022
What is a Small Estate Proceeding?

Not all estates require a probate or full administration proceeding in New York State. A small estate proceeding, also known as a Voluntary Administration, is a simplified Surrogate’s Court procedure. Voluntary Administration is available if the decedent died with or without a Will.

July 1, 2022
Medicare’s 100 Days Explained

Medicare never covers the full cost of a skilled nursing facility. Medicare does not always provide 100 days of rehabilitation, it will pay “up to” 100 days.

June 24, 2022
What is a Medicaid Fair Hearing?

A Fair Hearing is how to challenge a determination made by a local social services agency (“Agency”). An Administrative Law Judge from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Office (“OTDA”) precedes over the hearing.

May 27, 2022
5 Top Reasons Why Investment Real Estate Should Go into an LLC – Not a Corporation

When purchasing investment property, it is better not to own the property in your personal name. Both a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and a Corporation (Corp) offer creditor protection.

May 11, 2022
Debunking Myths Surrounding Probate

The legalities surrounding a Last Will and Testament stem from Roman times, when six witnesses affixed their personal seals to a Will. The Will was later validated by examining these seals to make sure they remained intact.

May 11, 2022

In The Media

News Mentions

Our Blog

Thought Leadership

When the SECURE Act passed in 2019, the biggest impact on estate planning was the elimination of the “lifetime stretch” for most beneficiaries of individual retirement plans (IRAs).

March 10, 2023 Read Article

We are honored to have been recognized as TBR News Media Readers’ Choice in the category of Attorney/Lawyer!

March 6, 2023 Read Article

New York State has recently passed new legislation – NY Executive Law Section 135-c, bringing significant changes to the rules governing notarization.

March 3, 2023 Read Article

Thank you East End! 💙 We’re beyond honored to have been selected as the Best Law Firm – South Fork in Dan’s Papers Best of the Best 2022 list for the third year in a row!

February 24, 2023 Read Article

We use the phrase “estate plan” dozens of times every day. It is useful for us attorneys because it describes a group of documents. Unfortunately, estate planning sounds much fancier than it is.

February 6, 2023 Read Article

An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (“ILIT”) is a valuable estate planning tool used to reduce estate taxes – known as death taxes during an election year. Whether you need an ILIT depends on how much your assets are worth now or what your potential net worth is in the future.

January 30, 2023 Read Article