Sentimental items defy the normal logic of estate planning. Traditionally, the goal has been to consider the monetary value of each asset and divide things equally to avoid disputes. For instance, a parent who has $600,000 in investments and three children may keep...
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How do you pick the right guardian to name in your will?
Your last will and testament is where you explain how your loved ones should divide your property after your death. Your will also serves an important role if you have young children. You can name a guardian to provide for their care if you die or become unable to...
When can you have a trustee removed?
It’s not uncommon for the beneficiary of a trust to be unhappy with the person appointed to be the trustee by their deceased loved one. Whether it’s an older sibling, a stepparent, a friend or a colleague of your loved one that you’d never previously met, the...
New Yorkers, watch out for these estate planning scams
Nearly everything critical in your life comes with the risk of being scammed out of your hard-earned money, even estate planning. A great many nefarious individuals are lying in wait, ready to give you supposedly excellent estate planning services in exchange for a...
2 ways to reduce your estate tax risks in New York
You pay taxes when you earn income and also when you acquire property. In some cases, you may have to pay taxes on those assets again posthumously. Both the state of New York and the federal government assess estate taxes. If your estate is worth more than...
What common errors do first-time executors make?
Many testators don't know much about the roles that an executor must carry out when they appoint them to their role -- and neither do the executors that agree to accept those roles. Handling an estate isn't easy when an executor is unprepared. They may make mistakes,...
How can someone challenge a will?
After someone dies, their will may be read as family and friends listen to who receives what. Not everyone will be happy with what they receive. To challenge a will, the person needs to have “standing.” The executor of a will may be tasked with ensuring that the...
Does your pet need a trust?
When you retired, you decided to get a few pets. Those pets will, potentially, outlive you. This is a thought that you may have been pondering, and if so, it could be a good time to bring up a pet trust when you go over your estate plan. A pet trust is a good option...
Common mistakes people make when creating their will
Creating a will is never a fun thing to do. No one wants to think about their own mortality and leaving their loved ones behind. But having a will is required to avoid New York’s intestate laws. Intestate laws are put into place to determine who gets what if someone...
Why is business succession planning an important part of the estate planning process?
Life is a game of chance; no one knows when their last day will be. If you own a business and something suddenly happens to you, you don't want your business to end up in probate. Many business owners make a point of engaging in business succession planning to ensure...