Many people in Suffolk County assume that writing a will is something they should think about after retirement, after purchasing a large home, or after accumulating substantial wealth. We believe that approach misunderstands what a will is designed to accomplish. A will is not simply a document for older or wealthy people. It is a […]
If you have built up a multimillion-dollar estate in Suffolk County, deciding how to leave assets to your children is just one part of the process. It is also important to consider whether your children should have immediate and full control over those assets. A large inheritance can bring risks, such as exposure to creditors, […]
Yes. In New York, the person named as executor of a will can also be one of the beneficiaries who inherits from the estate. In fact, this arrangement is extremely common because people frequently choose a spouse, adult child, sibling, or other trusted family member both to administer the estate and to receive property under […]
For many Suffolk County families, the house is not only their largest asset but also the center of their estate plan. That makes the question of whether to place a home into a trust especially important. We are often asked whether transferring a residence to a trust will avoid probate, protect the property, simplify matters […]
Life rarely stays exactly the same after we prepare an estate plan. Children and grandchildren are born, marriages change, assets are acquired or sold, relationships evolve, and the people we once selected to serve as executors may no longer be the best choices. When that happens, you may wonder whether changing your will requires starting […]
A Last Will and Testament is a key part of any estate plan, but a strong New York will should do more than just list who gets your property. It should clearly explain your wishes, name the people who will carry them out, plan for what happens if a beneficiary passes away before you, and […]
Creating an estate plan is a big step, but it should not be the last one. Over time, your family, finances, property, taxes, and even the laws can change a lot. A will or trust that matched your wishes years ago might not work for you now. Many people prepare an estate plan and then […]
Many people think that once an irrevocable trust is signed, it can never be changed. However, that is not always the case in New York. While irrevocable trusts are harder to change than revocable ones, New York law offers several ways to modify, restructure, or sometimes even end an irrevocable trust. Whether these options are […]
A revocable living trust is often a key part of an estate plan, but setting up the trust is just the first step. The next step is deciding which assets should go into the trust. Many people in Suffolk County think that once they have a revocable trust, they should put every asset they own […]