PRACTICE AREAS

ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES

The suite of documents in an estate plan may include the following:

• Last Will and Testament

  Through a Last Will and Testament, you instruct who receives certain property after your death, and who you nominate to settle your estate (the “executor”). The executor settles your estate by paying your last debts and taxes and distributing your property in accordance with your wishes. The executor must be appointed by the court in order to perform his or her duties. A Last Will and Testament is important to include in an estate plan so that your wishes are effectively and appropriately carried out.

• Living Trust

  Through a Living Trust you transfer assets to the trust during your lifetime. When you pass away, those trust assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes set forth in the trust, and without involvement of the court. You also name another person to step in for you to manage your trust assets, if you become unable to do so yourself due to disability or incapacitation. There are other reasons to consider creating a Living Trust. These reasons include protecting assets from the costs of long-term skilled nursing care, estate tax planning, and planning for a beneficiary with special needs.

• Power of Attorney

  A Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone to handle financial and certain legal matters on your behalf. These powers can be limited to a specific purpose (such as to handle a real estate transaction) or broad in scope.

• Health Care Proxy

  A Health Care Proxy allows you to appoint someone to speak on your behalf concerning your wishes regarding medical decisions. A Health Care Proxy would be used in the event you were incapacitated and were unable to communicate your medical decisions for yourself.

• Living Will

  A Living Will is an expression of your wishes and instructions concerning end of life care and treatment.

Select the Estate Plans tab for planning examples. Please note that additional planning and/or documents may be needed for your estate plan, and that the planning examples are for illustrative/educational purposes only.

ESTATE ADMINISTRATION

The death of a loved one is one of the most challenging and heartbreaking times in one’s life.  The legal process of settling that loved one’s estate can add an additional burden to an already stressful time.   If you are an executor nominated in a Last Will and Testament, you must work with the surrogate’s court of the county where the person who died lived in order to probate the will, or “prove the will to be valid” before you can take action on settling the estate.   The process of settling an estate can be lengthy, costly and challenging. If your loved one has died a resident of New York State, I will help you navigate this legal process during this emotional time, in a timely and cost-effective way.

Select the Contact tab above to request an appointment for a complimentary initial consultation.