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Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Part One – The Clues
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Part One - The Clues I am not a psychologist. I am not a physician. I am just a lawyer and I deal with different kinds of people every day. I love people and I love working with families to guide, educate and help them to solve complex...
read moreA Word About Our Special Children
All children are special. There are no exceptions. Whether they have physical or emotional challenges, are fantastic athletes, nerds or brainiacs, timid or outgoing, or just plain ours, they are all special. Special people require special planning. My sister and...
read moreSo Tell Me Again…What Do a T-Square and Gun Trust Have in Common?
I grew up on the mean streets of NYC, where the cops would walk 4 across. My sister and I spent our time going to school and taking care of our mother and step-father who were both quadriplegics. We lived in a housing project that reeked of urine and trash. Going...
read more“Home Sweet Home”
There is an old saying, "Home is where your heart is". As we age, the idea of staying home becomes more and more important to us. I believe in this saying very strongly. However, I also believe that the physical location of 'home' may need to change as our needs...
read moreGift Taxes: What Your CPA Doesn’t Know
Taxpayers who gave substantial assets to family members last year could be in for a nasty surprise this tax season: potential errors on federal gift-tax returns that could result in donors owing taxes on gifts they thought were tax-free. Part of the problem: Many...
read moreAfter Control, The Most Important Part Of An Estate Plan May Be The Memories
Estate planning is all about control; control over our decisions and finances, both during life and after our death. After control, the second most important part of an estate plan may be the memories. Memories of the lives and experiences we have shared...
read moreProtecting our Special Children
All children are special. The thought that a child may have to survive on his or her own before they are ready is every parent’s worst fear; it’s what keeps many parents up at night, and what brings many parents into our office asking about trusts, guardians, and...
read moreAn Update on the Presidential Election and the Changing Tax Law
The election is over, and the people of the United States have spoken. Barack Obama has been re-elected to serve four more years as President. As a result of his re-election, we are faced with a strong division in our government. The President has expressed his...
read moreThe World Changes When Our Children Reach Age 18. The Changes Are…..
My daughter Amy turned 18 on Sunday, April 29, 2012. On Monday April 30, 2012 Amy came in to our office to sign her Last Will, Trust, Power of Attorney, and all of her health care documents. You may ask “Why? Why did I have my 18 year old daughter sign her estate...
read moreWith the $5 Million Gift Tax Coupon Set to Expire, Is Now the Time for You to Give?
In 2010, Congress and the President raised the lifetime gift tax coupon (exclusion) amount from $1 Million to $5 Million. We estate planning attorneys and our client families rejoiced! We now had an estate planning coupon which made sense. The new coupon would...
read moreBreaking Down the Probate Process
Probate, quite simply, is the process by which the court determines the legal property of a person who has died, and decides to whom those assets will be distributed. It sounds like it should be simple, but somehow, unfortunately, probate is hardly ever simple. Even...
read moreHow to Begin the Process of Choosing a Guardian for Your Child
Choosing a guardian for a child is one of the most difficult things a parent may ever have to do. From parenting style to living situation to your gut feeling about this or that person’s ability to love your children as well as you do—there are endless issues to...
read moreOne-of-a-Kind Families Need One-of-a-Kind Plans
According to statistics the average U.S. family size is 3.2 members. The median age of a man upon his first marriage is 28.1, 47% of women aged 75 or older live alone. Also according to statistics, approximately 60% of couples own their home, 70.7% of mothers with...
read moreDon’t Fall Victim to These Common Estate Planning Myths
The following five myths continually frustrate estate planners. This is not only because we know that not only are they patently untrue, but because their continued circulation can be actually be harmful to your family and your estate. 1. Estate Planning is only for...
read moreShare Your Passions As Well As Your Assets
Do you have a hobby that you feel passionate about? Do you love reading and collecting books? Are you a rabid coin or stamp collector? Do you find peace and tranquility out tending your garden? Whatever it is that you love; you can bet the people who love you are...
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