Probate and Estates

Even if someone passes away with an estate below the federal estate tax exemption amount of $11.7 million dollars, if married, the estate should consider filing an estate tax return to capture the deceased spouse’s unused exemption amount. In 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act increased the federal estate tax exclusion amount for decedents […]

Under Article 19 of the New York Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act, real property vests in the decedent’s heirs or legatees immediately as owners date of death. So why would someone have to go through probate to take title or sell it? Although technically a probate or administration proceeding in the Surrogate’s Court is not needed […]

New York State has an estate tax “cliff”, which means that if an estate exceeds 105% of the New York estate tax exemption then the estate will receive absolutely no exemption from New York estate taxes and the entire value of the estate is subject to New York’s estate tax. Since the 2021 NYS exemption […]

Whether a bank account must go through probate depends on how the account was held – jointly or in the decedent’s sole name. Like real property, bank accounts can be owned in many ways. If the Account Is Held Jointly If a bank account is held jointly between two or more parties, there is usually […]

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) increased the federal estate tax exclusion amount for decedents dying in years 2018 to 2025. The exclusion amount for 2021 is $11.7 million. This means that an individual can leave $11.7 million and a married couple can leave $23.4 million dollars to their heirs or beneficiaries […]

As fiduciary you are required to account to the beneficiaries, but the type of accounting will vary depending upon the actual beneficiaries and the fiduciary’s relationship with them. There are two types of accounting: informal and judicial accounting. Informal Accounting Typically, the least expensive and fastest way for a fiduciary to account is to prepare […]

Question: My aunt recently passed away and I just found out that I was named executor of her Will. I really do not want to serve. Is renunciation an option; can I decline or resign from being executor? Answer: Just because you are nominated as executor of a Will does not mean that you must […]

Question: Who would inherit from an estate if someone dies without a will? Answer: Passing away without a will is known as dying “intestate”.  Administration is the process in which letters are issued to a distributee of the decedent who then collects the decedent’s assets, pays the decedent’s debts and then distributes the remaining assets […]