Wills

When a loved one passes away, the reading of their will can bring unwanted surprises. For example, the terms of that document might not reflect what you believe your loved one wanted. If you wish to challenge its contents in court, you will need to meet a few...

A will contains numerous important instructions about what happens after someone dies. The testator drafting the document should designate a personal representative or executor to administer the estate. If they have minor children, they may name a guardian to assume...

When you write your will, you certainly may know exactly why you’re making specific decisions. You know why you’re giving a certain percentage of your money to a specific beneficiary, for example, or why you have divided the family heirlooms the way you have. But do...

A well-crafted will grants you control over what happens to your assets after you are gone. It lets you choose who inherits your money, property and cherished possessions. However, there are limitations to its reach. Here are four key things a will cannot address....

Funding a trust often involves giving up control of certain resources. An individual may move their home and other personal possessions into a trust to protect those resources from creditor claims and provide support for loved ones or charitable causes. The change in...

When a loved one passes away, dealing with the process of settling their estate can bring up an array of emotions. One of those emotions might be anger if there were certain expectations regarding inheritance.  In that situation, there may be some discussion regarding...

There are numerous legal tools that may be used in estate planning, but one of the most fundamental components of an individual’s documents is a will. A valid will in New York must be written, signed and witnessed by the maker of the will and two eligible witnesses in...

Your existing will may not be your final one. Your life may change with time - you may get married/divorced or have a new child/grandchild. In addition, laws may change, a beneficiary or an involved party (the executor or guardian) may die or you may want to...

No one wants to think about a time when they won’t be around. However, failing to put the proper planning tools in place, such as a will, can cause a lot of hassle for your loved ones when you pass away.  While intestate laws are in place to determine what happens to...

A lot may have changed since you wrote your will. For example, you may have acquired new assets or sold some of them. Given that your will defines the future of your estate, everything must be up to date, in line with your current situation. But, how often should you...