Our Blog

Despite its name, a mechanic’s lien comes from home construction or remodeling work. The typical scenario involves a subcontractor or supplier who does not receive payment from the general contractor. The subcontractor or supplier tries and fails to work out payment with the general contractor and ultimately goes after the homeowner and the home instead.

Here is an overview of what you need to know about mechanic’s liens and what happens if you buy a house with a lien against it.

How a Mechanic’s Lien Happens

A mechanic’s lien usually starts as a dispute about payments from the general contractor.
Read more . . .

A trust is a legal structure that many people use for asset protection and estate planning. A trust splits legal and equitable ownership of the trust assets, which protects the assets from creditors during your lifetime. It also ensures that the assets get distributed according to your wishes after you die.

Learn how trusts get formed and why your trust needs to be funded.

Structure and Function of Trusts

Trusts have complex rights and duties, which can make them confusing for many people.
Read more . . .

The purchase of a new home is exciting! It’s likely that when you purchase a home, even if it’s an older one, you’ll be offered a home warranty. Home warranties are offered as a means of protection against unexpected and expensive home repairs.

What is a home warranty?

A home warranty is like an insurance policy. It’s a contract between a home warranty company and a homeowner designed to protect against major home system and appliance breakdowns caused by regular use.

If something breaks down that is covered by the warranty, the homeowner simply calls the company, and the warranty company handles the repair.
Read more . . .

Two common ways in which people plan for the disbursement of their property are through a Last Will and Testament and by creating a trust. People often associate trust funds, or trusts, as tools only used by very wealthy people. However, there are advantages to establishing a trust from which people who are not wealthy can benefit.
Read more . . .

Probate is a term that refers to the legal process of distributing a deceased individual’s estate. This process includes demonstrating the validity of the Last Will and Testament or disbursing the property in cases where there is no will.

Cases in Which Probate Is Unnecessary

There are times when the probate process is not necessary.
Read more . . .

Many are not clear about the differences between financial planning and estate planning. Both are important but serve separate and distinct purposes. To manage your money now and to protect your wealth in the future, understanding how financial planning and estate planning work together is vital.
Read more . . .

Guardianship means that a family member of an elderly parent or relative is placed in a position of higher responsibility to make medical and daily care decisions. The question about who and when to name a guardian for your aging loved ones is a significant one.

Watching a parent age is emotionally difficult. Those who used to provide the care for you now need you to care for them. Under certain circumstances, it may become necessary for you to pursue court-appointed guardianship of your parents.

If you have taken time in the past to create an estate plan, or you’re considering doing so now, that’s good news.

Having an estate plan ensures that the wealth you’ve worked hard to create is protected. It makes sense that your assets should be distributed as you wish.

Which wellness design features do today’s home buyers want?

It’s a seller’s market at the moment in New York and New Jersey. Real estate attorneys have seen clients engage in frantic bidding wars in the quest for a new home as low mortgage interest rates and low inventory of houses have driven house prices up. And while sellers may not have to woo buyers to get a fair price, adding some trendy “wellness” upgrades to the home could bring an even higher offer to purchase.
Read more . . .

Are trusts just for celebrity estate planning?

New York and New Jersey estate planning attorneys assist clients from all walks of life-- from those with modest means to wealthy celebrities. Some people think that estate planning is only necessary if you are wealthy, but everyone over the age of 18 can benefit from estate planning. And as you go through different phases of life, your estate plan can be reviewed and revised as needed.
Read more . . .

It is great to have an estate plan in place. An estate plan is an important step towards protecting your wishes for yourself, your loved ones, and your assets you have spent a lifetime acquiring. An estate plan puts protections in place in the face of an otherwise uncertain future. While we can never plan for every future contingency or possibility, an estate plan can help cover a number of basis. That is why the most solid estate plans considers future possibilities and provides protections as best as possible.