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Elder Law & Estate Planning
Zoom Conference: Financial Elder Abuse and Fraud
June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Because of the many issues surrounding elder abuse, Littman Krooks attorney Brian L. Miller, Esq., and his guest, Ilene Amiel, Financial Care Manager from Personal Affairs Administrator Inc., are a hosting a discussion on financial elder abuse. Brian and Ilene will discuss money management and how we…
New York Enacts New Power of Attorney Law
We share this bulletin to update our clients on an important change in New York law governing powers of attorney which could impact your estate planning. This bulletin provides important information related to the changes. If you, or someone you know, is impacted by these changes or if you are uncertain about how this update…
Update on New York’s Community Medicaid Changes
By Brian L. Miller, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP In April of 2020, New York State passed laws significantly changing the Community Medicaid program for all New Yorkers, including the implementation of a thirty-month lookback for all asset transfers. These laws were intended to take effect in October 2020 but have been pushed back several times…
Guardianship: Fact vs. Fiction
In recent months, television viewers have been captivated by docuseries and fictional portrayals of conservatorship, known in New York as Guardianship. As with most on-screen productions, there may be more dramatic fiction at work than factual portrayal. A reasonable viewer would be worried about the prospect of guardianship, and maybe with good reason. A guardianship…
Deciding How to Leave Money to Others
By Bernard A. Krooks, Certified Elder Law Attorney You have finally gotten around to focusing on your estate planning and have taken that first step by contacting an estate planning lawyer. Now you have to decide who gets what (or does not get) upon your demise. These are difficult decisions and are often complicated by…
Beneficiary Designations for Retirement Accounts
By: Bernard A. Krooks, Certified Elder Law Attorney Estate planning is so much more than filling in the blanks on a few forms that you have printed out from the internet. In addition to having the proper documents and fiduciaries, you need to make sure that the estate plan is coordinated so that your beneficiary…
A Primer on Estate Tax Returns
When a resident of New York dies with a will in place, the nominated executor must file a petition to probate the will in the Surrogate’s Court to obtain authority to administer the decedent’s estate. If a resident of New York dies without leaving a proper will, a petition must be filed in the Surrogate’s…
The Pitfalls of an Online Will
By Joel Krooks, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP Many companies currently provide people with the opportunity to create a Last Will and Testament and other various legal documents online. These online Wills have various issues that can cause your estate to not be distributed as intended, can create excessive legal fees during the estate administration, and…
The Impact of Blended Families on Estate Planning and Litigation
Comprehensive estate planning is essential for every adult. Your plan should address the needs of all your loved ones at your death, regardless of whether you are single, married or divorced. It is crucial however, to consult with an experienced estate planning attorney if you belong to a blended family. A blended family is one…
Plan Now to Minimize Impact of Estate and Gift Taxes
By Amy C. O’Hara, CELA It is essential for families with significant wealth to be aware of estate and gift tax limits. An important part of estate planning is making sure that as much of your wealth as possible goes to your heirs rather than to pay taxes. The good news is that both the…
