Many people often overlook the importance of having a will, especially younger individuals. When someone does have a will, they may stash it somewhere safe and never update it. This can be almost as problematic as not having a will in the first place. Life moves fast,...
Legal help takes the guesswork out of estate planning
Estate planning is an important legal process for everyone to take on but for many different reasons individuals choose not to do it. Some New Yorkers may not believe that they own enough property to make estate planning necessary, while others may simply not know...
Why new parents need a will
With the birth of your child, you have just started a new chapter in your life. For the next 18 years and beyond, you are responsible for taking care of another life. While you may not have thought about it yet, now is the time to start estate planning. The simplest...
Consider guardianship for adults with developmental disabilities
Those living in New York with a family member who has a developmental disability already likely know about the special considerations involved in caring for someone with a disability. Even with excellent support in place, those with developmental disabilities may not...
What is spousal refusal for Medicaid planning?
Medicaid is a government program that helps individuals pay for long-term and nursing home care once they have reached an advanced age. Not everyone qualifies for Medicaid, and there is an income threshold under which individuals must be in order to receive support....
Managing an estate when no will exists
If there is one thing that readers of this New York estate planning blog should take away from its many posts it is that everyone should have an estate plan. An estate plan does not have to be a complicated scheme of inheritance and conditions: estate plans need only...
Do you have long-term care plans for a disabled loved one?
If you have a developmentally disabled child or sibling, you probably provide quite a bit of support to help them live a healthy, fulfilling life. It may not be pleasant to think about, but you need to plan for a future where they still require services but you are...
How much does nursing home care cost?
New York residents who own their own homes may plan to stay in their residences for as long as possible before making the decision to move into a nursing home or other assisted living facility. It can be difficult to uproot one's life and move to a strange new place,...
