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“I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse”. Sometimes, all it takes is one line and people can guess what movie it came from. This easily recognizable quote is from the iconic movie “The Godfather”. It’s part of a conversation between actors Marlon Brando, as Vito Corleone, and Al Pacino as his son, Michael Corleone. 

But do you know how this movie—and this line—is connected to Read more . . .

Since they were born, you’ve taken care of them, provided for them, and even though they may be grown and gone-- and may even have children of their own-- the odds are they are an important part of your comprehensive estate plan. 

So how much do your adult children need to know-- if anything-- about your estate plan and/or your financial status? 

Every family dynamic is different. Some are close, while some are estranged.

When people think of buying or selling real estate in New York City, they may think of existing houses, co-ops and condos in Staten Island and the other boroughs. 

In a New York or New Jersey residential real estate transaction, the property owner is selling the property to a buyer who has likely fallen in love with the place. It could be the price, neighborhood, location, or any combination of factors that drew the buyer to offer to buy the premises.

Seeing a skilled New York and New Jersey estate planning attorney to create an initial estate plan should be on the list of every person reaching the age of majority, regardless of their net worth. Many people erroneously believe they need to have a lot of assets or be married with children in order to need a last will and testament.

But a comprehensive estate plan also includes documents that

New York and New Jersey estate administration attorneys know that regardless of how well someone may (or may not) have planned their estate before passing, helping an executor through the probate process is an opportunity to bring comfort and to ease the stress on the executor. 
Often, went a testator makes their last will and testament, or “will”, they name a close family member like a spouse, adult children or other close family or friends as the Read more . . .

New York and New Jersey real estate attorneys know that buying a home is one of the biggest purchases in your life. As such, the process can be understandably overwhelming. 

If you’re buying home on Staten Island, or in the New York City or New Jersey area, you need an attorney that simplifies and streamlines the process as much as possible.

Estate planning in New York and New Jersey has changed dramatically over the years as traditional estate planning doesn’t meet the needs of many of today’s modern, blended families.

For example, in the 1950s, when divorce rates were lower, the “standard” estate plan might have had each spouse leaving everything to the other and then the surviving spouse leaving everything to the couple’s children. But today, life is more complex and only “one-third of American households are ‘traditional’ (heterosexual, married, with children)”.
Read more . . .

New York and New Jersey estate planning encompasses far more than just a last will and testament (more commonly referred to simply as a “will”). Many people know that a will is a document used to designate legal guardians for minor children in the event the maker (or testator) dies while the children are still minors and that it also designates the beneficiaries that the testator would like to leave their property to after they are gone. 

But a truly comprehensive estate plan includes other important additional documents including but not limited to documents that Read more . . .

New York and New Jersey estate planning lawyers, as well as the public, will likely always remember the headlines surrounding the late hotel and real estate investment billionaire Leona Helmsley’s estate – – particularly the part where she left a $12 million trust fund to benefit her spoiled little Maltese dog, Trouble.

So, what do you plan on doing for Sparky, Fluffy, or Trigger after you are gone?

While most people consider their pets to be part of the family, they don’t often include them in their estate planning. But for those who live alone, or those who possess pets with extraordinary life expectancies--or those with excess riches-- it may be wise to include your pet in your estate planning.
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Many people who die in prison, especially those incarcerated for decades, may die leaving estates with little to no value. Some may not even have a will. But if they own anything that doesn’t pass automatically to the heirs, or if their estate has the potential of coming into money after their death, their heirs will likely need to go through an estate administration attorney to get it.