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In today’s globalized world, it’s increasingly common to have assets, residences or family ties in more than one country. Whenever you deal with property abroad, or heirs in multiple jurisdictions, your estate planning becomes a cross-border matter. Cross-border estate planning is about making sure your assets, heirs, and wishes are honored and protected. It is critical to carefully plan for cross-border matters or you will face unexpected complications with the probate of a

Dissolving a marriage is an extremely personal, stressful, and important decision that requires the utmost consideration. The first choice you will face when pursuing a divorce in New York is determining which type of divorce is right for you. In New York State, divorces generally fall into two categories, contested and uncontested. Understanding the difference between the two can help you make informed decisions and set realistic expectations for the process ahead. The choic

Planning for long-term care is an extremely important step to take to protect both yourself and your family. The reality is that nursing homes, assisted living, and in-home care can be extremely expensive, and without proper planning, these costs can quickly drain your savings. With careful planning, you can preserve your assets and still qualify for Medicaid. Planning strategies include understanding the Medicaid look-back period, gifting, and considering an Medicaid Asset P

Learn how this simple legal tool can save time, reduce taxes, and ensure your assets go exactly where you want now and in the future. What Is a Power of Appointment? A Power of Appointment lets you (the Donor) give a trusted person (the Donee) the authority to decide who receives certain assets from your estate, even after you’re gone. It’s a smart way to make your will or trust flexible, allowing it to adapt as family needs or laws change. How It Works You empower a Donee li

Co-ownership of property, whether through inheritance, investment, or a former relationship, can sometimes lead to an intractable dispute. When co-owners are deadlocked over what to do with a property, the legal impasse can feel overwhelming. In such cases, a partition action culminating in a court-ordered auction can provide the necessary path forward. For our clients facing these complex real estate disputes, understanding partition actions is the first step toward a resolu

An advancement is essentially an early inheritance, a gift given during a person's lifetime intended to be deducted from a beneficiary's...

When an estate matter comes before the Surrogate’s Court, not every party is always in a position to speak for themselves. Sometimes heirs are minors, sometimes beneficiaries are legally incapacitated, and sometimes interested parties are simply missing or unknown. In these situations, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem to ensure that everyone’s interests are fairly represented. What is a Guardian ad Litem? A guardian ad litem (often called a “GAL”) is an attorney appo

When someone passes away without a will and lacks close family members such as a spouse or children, their property cannot simply remain...

The concept of inheritance is central to many people's end-of-life planning. However, what if the person inheriting is the one who caused...

A Green Burial: An Eco-Friendly End-of-Life Choice   The earliest human burials date back to the Stone Age, when the remains of the...