A new marriage often presents an opportunity for a fresh start, a chance to move forward in life. Before your wedding celebration, however, there are many important things to consider if you are going to make the transition a smooth one. Are you combining households? Are you moving to a new space or is one...
The recent popularity of DNA testing kits makes it possible to find relatives we never knew existed. Children who were given up for adoption, or “adopted out,” are now discovering siblings and half-siblings. They are finding parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins to whom they are biologically related. Apart from all of the other issues...
Mediation is a dynamic, structured, interactive form of alternative dispute resolution used to resolve a broad range of conflicts in a variety of settings. It is particularly well suited to the resolution of conflicts among and between family members. It is a process by which an impartial third party facilitates communication and negotiation and promotes...
Do you know what type of account you opened when you and your spouse opened an account jointly? What about the account you own with your child? When was the last time you looked at your deed? Did you and your spouse buy your home before you were married? When was the last time you...
A guardianship proceeding seeks a court determination as to whether an individual is incapable of handling their own financial and/or personal needs and, if not, to appoint a guardian to act on behalf of the individual. Such a proceeding is both costly and time-consuming. You can expect a guardianship proceeding to cost thousands of...
With today’s rising cost of living and uncertain economy, circumstances arise in which family members might need to rely on each other for financial assistance. Parents may decide to lend children money to help them buy a home, car or other large purchase, to get out of debt or to start a business or financial...
It is not unusual for people to misunderstand the purpose and intent of a living will – not to be confused with a last will and testament. In fact, when we review estate planning documents with our clients before they execute them, we are often asked about the differences between health care proxies and living...
Guardianship — Different Strokes for Different Folks Article 81 Guardianships In our last issue of “A Step Ahead,” we provided information regarding Article 17 and 17-A guardianships. In this issue, we will address the “other” New York guardianship proceeding, the Article 81 guardianship. First, it is important to remember that estate planning is not...
Generally speaking, guardianship is a legal relationship, authorized by a Court, under which one person, the “guardian,” has the right and duty to care for another, the “ward,” and/or their property. In New York, there are three (3) different types of guardianship proceedings, each suited to a different set of circumstances. Article 17 of...
Our clients are frequently confused by the various types of services that fall under the general term “home care.” Generally, home care helps disabled adults and chronically ill or cognitively challenged seniors live independently for as long as possible, given the limits of their medical condition. It covers a wide range of services and is...
