Wills, Trusts, and Estates

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2023 federal guidelines for how much money the spouses of...

Dear Mr. Di Costanzo:  Why do I need a Will or Trust if all my accounts have designated beneficiaries? Beneficiary designations are...

Dear Mr. Di Costanzo: Can I act under my father’s power of attorney after he dies? One of the most important estate planning documents...

On December 15th, 2020, Governor Cuomo signed into law legislation substantially amending the New York General Obligations Law, which is...

An inheritance can be easily dissipated if your child is a spendthrift, has bad habits or is involved with a divorce. A trust can ensure...

I’ve seen plenty of families disinherit a disabled child by leaving the family assets to non-disabled children under the theory that...

Traditionally, Thanksgiving is the holiday when the entire family, for better or worse, comes together.  After the melatonin calms...

Over the years, I have found that one of the biggest obstacles preventing clients from pulling the trigger on a Medicaid Trust is the...

If properly drafted and executed, certain New York estate planning documents, such as a Last Will and Testament (“Will”) or a trust...

When someone nominates you as the Executor of their Last Will and Testament (“Will”), you are not obligated to accept such nomination. In...

While the drafting of new estate planning documents generally replaces previous versions, we generally advise our clients to preserve...

Co-Authored by Joanna C. Feldman, Esq. Do you understand who will inherit your Estate if you die without a Will? We recently read an...

Personal belongings, such as jewelry, coin collections, furniture, photographs, family heirlooms, and other items of sentimental value...

Regardless of whether your estate plan is basic or complex, it is important to review the plan every few years for reasons that include...

Co-Authored by Joanna C. Feldman Many people ask whether – or even why – they need a Last Will and Testament (“Will”) if they designate...

How much can I gift each year? Most people think you can only gift $15,000.00 per recipient in 2019.  You might be surprised to hear that...

First and foremost, I recommend that you have an open discussion with your family about the disposition of your remains. These are very...

Co-authored by Joanna C. Feldman This question was recently asked at an event we hosted during which we discussed strategies to leave a...

Change is inevitable, and it comes in many shapes and sizes.  Death, disability, and divorce are three of the most common changes in life...

While I cannot say whether there are mistakes in your estate planning documents, the wording of your document may be confusing to you as...