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Most people have heard that when music legend, Prince, passed away a couple years ago, he died without a will. Perhaps he didn’t care what happened to his property after he died or, like many without estate plans, maybe he just assumed his property would pass easily to the people he wanted to have it. In reality, Prince’s estate is the proverbial poster child for how much can go wrong when you die without an estate plan.

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There are plenty of reasons why people consider buying a home on Staten Island. And now there’s another very unique one.

Staten Island may be a model not just for New York, but for the nation to follow when it comes to ideas and pilot programs for finding housing opportunities for adults with disabilities.
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It turns out the popular, snarky remark “don’t get your panties in a knot” might actually be appropriate to describe a recent New York City estate administration nightmare. The estate of a father is reportedly suing the dead man’s adult son—described as a “high-end underwear tycoon”— after Junior allegedly failed to return an expensive painting that he reportedly borrowed from his dad in 2012. 

 The pair reportedly had a falling-out at some point after the loan of the painting and prior to the father’s death.

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The start of the new year is a popular time for people to re-examine their relationships and sometimes revise existing estate plans to reflect any changes in those relationships. But estate plan modifications can be made at any time of the year as well. 

New York and New Jersey estate planning attorneys must consider a client’s family relationships, tax considerations, goals for the future and financial security of their children, as well as any future potential will contest when drafting or modifying a comprehensive estate plan.

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What does the Quran dictate about the creation of wills for its followers?

American Muslims are taught from a young age that the Quran and other Muslim teachings impose quite detailed guidelines on how a Muslim should distribute his or her assets after death.  Among Americans, fewer than half of us have a will in place, according to the most recent Gallup polls.  For those in the American Muslim community, that figure is thought to be even lower because Muslims traditionally counted on the government in their country of origin to follow Islamic guidelines in distributing their assets. Now, however, it is becoming critically important that American Muslims develop an estate plan that complies with their religion and heritage.  Our Read more . . .

Do I need a trust?

New York and New Jersey estate planning attorneys recognize that even though most people understand that the purpose of a last will and testament, also called simply a “will”, is to designate who gets their property and who would be guardians of their minor children after they die, few people realize or fully understand the role that living and other trusts can play in a comprehensive estate plan.

Revocable living trusts are often used in estate planning because they allow people to remain in control of their assets during their lifetime, provide for management in the event of incapacity, and allow the assets to be transferred upon death in accordance with the maker’s wishes. The trust process allows trust assets to pass to beneficiaries more quickly because they avoid probate and the delays, costs, and lack of privacy associated therewith.
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How can buyers and sellers protect themselves when transacting through new technology?

A new blockchain-based app aims to revolutionize the ways in which buyers and sellers transact in real estate.  The New York based app is called ShelterZoom and it is set to launch in 2019. The app is intended to bring a new ease to real estate transactions, making buying or selling a home as easy as pushing a button.  Through the app, buyers and sellers, along with their real estate agents, can view offers and acceptances in real time. Vital information like home inspection documents, property titles, and the like will be visible to all parties through the blockchain ledger.
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What can I do now to retain some control over my children’s inheritance after I die?

Many people know that a last will and testament, commonly called a will, is the foundation document in an estate plan. In a nutshell, it disposes of the maker’s property after death and in the case of minor children, designates the legal guardians who will raise them and the trustees to handle their inheritance until they reach maturity age.

But many people are not as aware of Read more . . .

Why should everyone have a durable power of attorney?

We have likely all heard the tale of a person who passed away without an estate plan, leaving the heirs to battle it out.  Some of us have actually experienced the pain of losing a loved one who left no instructions as to their last wishes. Dying without an estate plan in place can leave a legal disaster for your loved ones.  

Your heirs may feel confused and lost as to what decisions you would want made regarding your healthcare, finances, and funeral. At times, people you love could receive nothing due to New York’s intestacy laws.
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Does New York State owe me a tax refund?

It isn’t often that New York estate administration attorneys come across something new and exciting in the relatively stable and unchanged world of trusts and estates law.

But a recent ruling in favor of an estate that took a novel and daring estate tax approach has turned New York estate administration practice on its ear. By applying the same arguments, many others may be entitled to “big estate tax refunds and future savings”.
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Q: What happens when parents of minor children die together without a will?

“The deadliest transportation accident in nearly a decade” happened in New York recently-- one where 20 lives were taken instantly in a horrific limousine crash upstate. The limo driver and all 17 passengers were killed upon impact along with two pedestrians when the limo reportedly barreled down a hill, left the road, hit the pedestrians and slammed into a shallow creek bed near a busy market place. The 17 passengers were all friends and family on the way to a 30th birthday celebration for one on board. One family lost 4 sisters—one being the birthday girl.

Post-accident reports highlight issues of liability and hint of the potential for wrongful death actions against the company that owned the limousine which reportedly “had a record of repeated safety violations”. But important New York estate planning issues were not thoroughly discussed.

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