Law Brief ®: Alexis Gruttadauria and Richard Schoenstein Explore The New NYS Power of Attorney Form
Ruder Ware's Elder Law Team Recognizes National Special Needs Law Month - Part 2
Exploring Digitization of Health and Medical Data and Records Part Two
Are your estate planning documents protecting your assets?
The period after a spouse passes away is an emotional time of mourning. However, there are a handful of estate planning adjustments that you should make to protect your estate under the new conditions....more
Perhaps you drafted your will years ago and it references many of your existing assets, including retirement plan accounts and life insurance policies. But you also have paperwork on file with the applicable financial...more
Conversations with loved ones who are declining in health and perhaps advancing in age are difficult. Such difficulty is only exacerbated when that loved one is losing their ability to make healthcare decisions on their own...more
Quick quiz – What do Michael Jackson, Prince, Heath Ledger, Amy Winehouse, Chadwick Boseman and Avicii have in common? Yes, they are all famous people who died unexpectedly at a fairly young age, but they have something else...more
Our attorneys field questions every day about the nuanced estate planning issues that arise due to a client's unique circumstances, but there also are many fundamental estate planning considerations that apply "across the...more
The recent Supreme Court opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization dismantles 50 years of legal precedent concerning reproductive rights. In overturning Roe v. Wade, the majority in Dobbs writes, “nothing in...more
As the elderly population increases, it is becoming more common for adult children to step in to help with financial decisions. The children may find themselves being in charge of a parent’s finances if they have a cognitive...more
Acting as an agent under a power of attorney is a big responsibility and it isn’t something everyone can take on. It is possible to resign or refuse the position....more
When you’re in the throes of a separation or divorce, it is easy to forget the importance of updating your will and your estate plan. With so much happening in the here and now, things like beneficiary designations and...more
This newsletter is intended to keep readers informed about developments in probate and fiduciary litigation in Massachusetts and New York. Intentional Interference and Unjust Enrichment Claims in Connection with a Trust...more
If you are single, you may not think you need to plan your estate, but single people are in as much need of a plan as anyone else. Estate planning not only involves determining where your assets will go when you die -- it...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
We all want to save time and money when possible. So, when I am asked if the standard Wisconsin power of attorney for finances is sufficient, I understand the motivation to put a crucial document in place quickly and...more
If you’re a small business owner, you probably don’t have a minute to spare in your busy workday, especially if you’re struggling to recover after a turbulent 2020. Estate planning may be one of the last things on your mind. ...more
Estate planning is a team effort and the lineup of individuals and professionals that you choose for your team roster will determine the integrity of your plan for years to come. An all-star lineup for your estate plan should...more
My name is Attorney Jessica Merkel. As we shared earlier this month, October is Special Needs Law Month. Since this is part two of our two-part series, we wanted to recap that in our first part we shared with you some...more
If you have recently moved to North Carolina, you are not alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 300,000 people who called North Carolina home in 2018 lived in another state the previous year. Whether your...more
We hope that you and your loved ones are healthy and safe. 2020, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and this new reality of social distancing and isolation will not soon be forgotten...more
At 5:30 a.m. my phone started ringing. I am an early riser, but I have to say that I almost never get calls that early in the morning. In fact, that is my quiet time when I drink my coffee, think about my day ahead, and...more
In a youth-focused society, it is difficult to contemplate aging, let alone dying. Many young people assume, incorrectly, that estate planning is just for the elderly or the very wealthy. There are four reasons why everyone -...more
Divorce attorneys saw a wave of divorces last year due to the changes in the tax laws that took effect on January 1, 2019. If you were one of the masses whose divorce was finalized in 2018, now is the time to revise your...more
An estate planning rule of thumb is to review (and, if necessary, revise) one’s estate plan in light of major life events. Such events include a marriage, birth of a child and a divorce. A second marriage also calls for an...more
A power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents, but when one sibling is named in a power of attorney, there is the potential for disputes with other siblings. No matter which side you are on, it is...more
“Thinking too long about doing something is often the reason it never gets done.” –Everyday Life Lessons - In recent years, a growing number of Americans are deciding to cohabitate instead of getting married or...more
Recent change in tax laws have many people rethinking their estate plans. Also, changes in the normal course of life make it a good idea for persons with estates that range from small to large to review wills, trusts, powers...more