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Why do I need an estate plan if I am not married?

More couples today are putting off marriage in favor of living together.  According to the latest Census data, the number of couples living together out of wedlock has increased over 25 percent since 2000.  Many unmarried younger adults without children may believe that having an estate plan is not necessary.  However, not being married can actually lead to complex issues should one of the partners pass away or become gravely ill.  Unmarried partners can protect themselves by reviewing the estate planning tips below and contacting

How can I ensure my assets stay in the family after my death?

Estate planning is essential for people of all ages and income levels.  Without an estate plan in place, your assets could go towards taxes and may be passed to heirs that you would not have selected.  While the federal estate tax limit is high for individuals and couples, states often have lower limits and other fees related to probate can be costly.  Our

How can I make my end of life wishes clear?

One man’s tattoo recently left a team of Miami doctors with a confusing ethical dilemma.  A 70-year-old man was taken to a Miami hospital, where doctors discovered that he had a large chest tattoo that stated “Do Not Resuscitate.”  The tattoo seemed to convey the man’s end of life wishes, but doctors were puzzled over whether the message should be honored.  The New England Journal of Medicine recently explored this interesting case. 

Will home prices drop in New York if the GOP tax bill passes?

As the tax reform bill pushes towards passage, many people across America are concerned with how the new tax plan may impact their lives and finances.  One of the top questions is how the controversial bill will affect the housing market.  Recently, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) issued a warning that adoption of the new bill will cause housing prices to drop nationwide.  Our Staten Island, New York real estate planning lawyers discuss what changes you could anticipate seeing in the real estate market in the coming years and how you can take advantage of them.

Proposed Tax Bill Limits Homeowner Related Deductions 

The tax bill as it is currently written contains several provisions that reduce or eliminate deductions commonly used by home owners.

How can I bring my loved one’s comfort with my estate plan?

Estate planning usually revolves around the ever important transference of your assets to your spouse, children, and other loved ones.  It is critically important that you prepare your estate to eventually be passed down to your heirs.  Without such planning, your hard earned assets may be subject to extreme taxation, delays, and could potentially not go to the individuals you would have selected.

What are my legal rights if my tenant has not paid rent for the month?

As a landlord, you expect that your tenant will pay you rent on or before the day it is due.  Late rent could impact your finances.  Legally, New York tenants have the right to take action if the rent is a certain number of days past due.  Dealing with tenants that are delinquent on their rent can be complex.  Landlords will want to consult with a

Author: D.J. Ten Hoeve
12/7/2017
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Never make a final offer that ends in 000. 

"High School sweethearts and first-time homebuyers move in to 1 Roma Court”…it sounds like a fictitious headline for a Realtors Facebook page. Well in this case it’s true. Rich Denora and Erika Martoni are the new owners of 1 Roma Court in Lincroft, and what an awesome street to welcome them!

Roma Court, located a few blocks off the Garden State Parkway is about as easy a commute to NYC as possible from Monmouth County with the Park ’n Ride at Exit 109 within walking distance. With 2 NJ State Troopers and 2 local police officers on the street, Roma Court is S.A.F.E (Safe And Friendly Environment). Better yet, 1 Roma was a clean, renovated, relatively move-in-ready home on this wonderful street.

How can I avoid the estate tax?

New York recently raised the amount of property that can pass free from the estate tax to $5.25 million.  Previously, the exclusion was $4,187,500.  After January of 2019, New York’s exclusion will match the federal exemption amount.  However, high earners in New York need to be aware of several important exceptions to the basic estate tax exclusion.

What are my legal rights if my tenant stops paying rent?

Being a landlord can be a difficult job.  If your tenant has broken the rules of the lease or failed to pay rent on a timely basis, you may need to pursue an eviction.  While the word eviction sounds daunting, with the assistance of a real estate attorney and some basic knowledge about the eviction process, you can remove the noncomplying tenant so that you can re-rent the property as soon as possible.  Take a look at the following overview of the steps to an eviction in New York and contact our real estate lawyers at The Law Firm of Merlino & Gonzalez for assistance with evicting your tenant.

When You Can Evict a Tenant?

Under New York law, a tenant can be evicted for several potential reasons.

While many homebuyers may hear that it’s all about “location, location, location,” there are other important factors to consider when selecting a house, not the least of which is the structural condition of the dwelling, and the heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems. For this reason, before you close on a home purchase, or at the time an offer is made, you should arrange for an independent home inspection. This article is a brief discussion of the ins and outs of home inspections.

Home Inspection: 101

First, any deal should be contingent on your acceptance of a final home inspection report. If the inspection reveals no defects, you’ve cleared the first hurdle buying a home.

Although many individuals are well served by a will-based estate plan, a will must go through a court supervised proceeding referred to a probate. Depending on the size and the complexity of the estate, this can be a time consuming and costly process. For this reason, we often recommend creating a revocable living trust. 

What is a revocable living trust?

This estate planning tool is a legal document that takes ownership of the trust maker’s property. The trust names a trustee, which is also in most cases the grantor, or the person making the trust.