Q: Why are Staten Island real estate values increasing?
Staten Island residential real estate values are soaring. We previously reported on how The New York Wheel project is anticipated to lure Manhattan tourists’ attention and money here. But there are many other reasons why Staten Island is really becoming the place to be for...
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Why Your Estate Plan Should Include Advance Medical Directives
There are a number of objectives to estate planning, not the least of which are protecting your legacy and providing for your loved ones. At the same time, it is also important that you plan for type of medical treatment you should receive be in the event that an accident or illness leaves...
Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples
What estate planning tools should same-sex couples use to protect themselves and their family?
Estate planning is a crucial step for all couples, but for same-sex couples, creating a thorough estate plan is all the more important. Same-sex couples often have unique situations that require careful planning. While the Supreme Court legalized...
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Ensure Your Compliance with ADA Laws with a Real Estate Lawyer
What steps can I take to make sure my new building meets ADA requirements without excessive costs to renovate?
Ensure Your Compliance with ADA Laws with a Real Estate Lawyer Continue reading…
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990. This civil rights law prohibits discrimination against disabled individuals. For businesses, this often requires making modifications to an existing building in order to ensure...
What a Homebuyer Should Look for in a Real Estate Contract
If you are buying a home, you will need to enter into a purchase and sale contract with the seller, which is typically a standard document prepared by the real estate agent. Nonetheless, it is important to have an experienced real estate attorney review the contract to ensure that your interests are protected.
Probate: An Overview of Letters Testamentary
Letters Testamentary are court-issued documents that give an executor legal authority to manage and settle a deceased person’s estate. Without them, even a properly named executor cannot access accounts, transfer property, or pay estate obligations. These letters formally open the probate process and allow the estate to move forward under court supervision....
Pitfalls to Avoid in a Commercial Lease in NY
Do I need a real estate lawyer to review my commercial lease?
Pitfalls to Avoid in a Commercial Lease in NY Continue reading…
Signing a lease on a building is often one of the most critical first steps to starting your successful new business. By signing a commercial lease, you will obligate yourself to pay large sums of money for several years to...
A Look at Irrevocable Trusts
Should my estate plan include an irrevocable trust?
A Look at Irrevocable Trusts Continue reading…
While clients often come to us for assistance with creating a will, we also design estate plans that consider other estate planning objectives, particularly asset protection, minimizing taxes, and providing for loved ones. In these situations, many individuals are well served by establishing an irrevocable...
Updating an Estate Plan After a Divorce
How will a divorce affect my estate plan?
In our last blog post, we wrote about the importance of having an estate plan, but there are a number of lifestyle changes that may require modifications to your plan, not the least of which is getting a divorce. Because a marital break-up is a...
Trusts and Estate Planning
A trust is a valuable legal tool that can have numerous benefits. To create a trust, a person, referred to as the “settlor” or grantor,” transfers assets into the trust to be managed by a trustee for the benefit of the trust beneficiaries. When putting an asset in trust, you are actually transferring...