It’s an exciting moment when your children turn 18 and become adults. They might leave home, go to college, travel by themselves, or they might get a new job in a new place. Now, they need to make their own decisions. And as...more
As of November 2023, having a valid Health Care Proxy became easier for New Yorkers. A Health Care Proxy allows a competent adult to appoint an agent to make health care choices for them if they lose the ability to make those...more
Many think estate planning is only a concern for those who are later in their stage of life or wealthy. They put it off for years, or entirely. Estate planning is for everyone and essential to maintain financial security...more
Client Question: “What area of law do you focus on?” Attorney Response: “Trusts and Estates.” Client Response: “I’m still young, I don’t need to worry about planning for when I’m gone. I’ll call you when I’m older...more
For young adults, the inevitable is typically not at the forefront when it comes to making future plans, precluding many from giving any thought to what may happen to their assets on death. In reality, all young adults should...more
Small but significant changes are coming soon to the New York State statutory power of attorney form effective June 13, 2021. By legislation passed on December 13, 2020 and signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo, all powers...more
Estate planning experts usually cite the need to include advance health care directives in a comprehensive estate plan. But there’s often disagreement about the legal names given to those directives and their optimal use,...more
As students return to colleges and universities across the United States amid COVID-19 concerns, students, their parents and their families should ensure that arrangements for the student’s medical decision-making for an...more
It is important to have advance directives in place, whether in the midst of a pandemic or not. All adults should have three types of advance directives. ...more
In uncertain times like these, COVID-19 reminds us to be prepared for the unexpected. Do you have an estate plan in place? If so, now is the time to review those plans and make any necessary updates. If not, consider...more
As the world searches for a new normal, it is more important than ever to make sure that the interests of you and your loved ones are properly protected. We have compiled the below list of the basic life and estate planning...more
On Monday, Governor Baker signed a temporary measure into law allowing notaries to notarize documents by videoconference during the current state of emergency. This means that Massachusetts residents can—among other...more
Taking the time to complete your health care power of attorney and living will is a great step toward ensuring that your health care wishes will be followed if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. A health care...more
We hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. We previously noted that the coronavirus "lock down" is causing many of our clients to re-think their existing estate plans. In the past, certain estate...more
COVID-19 has changed our lives in so many ways. Social distancing and wearing masks at the grocery store have become the new normal. We are all doing our best to make sure our families are safe, which in many cases has...more
Friends and colleagues- My thoughts are with you during these uncertain times. First and foremost, I want you and your family to stay safe and healthy. Social distancing is a small price to pay for guarding the wellness...more
Making sure you have the right estate planning documents is one of the simplest ways to have a positive impact on your family's future. Proper planning ensures that your wishes will be followed and that your family will have...more
In Massachusetts, communicating and enforcing our health care wishes is a two step process. First, we must have the document. Under our state laws, a health care proxy must be in writing, be executed properly, and must name a...more