As of 2018, cross-border families planning an estate will require an investment plan meeting relevant rules to domicile, succession, generation-skipping transfer, and gift tax laws in each country where distribution will occur at the time of a decedent’s death. International estate planners use investment techniques specific to cross-border transfers and…
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New York Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog
What are My Inheritance Rights as a Spouse in New York?
The last will and testament is an important document an individual creates to spell out his or her final wishes to pass on the assets of an estate to friends, family, and business partners. However, New York probate laws do put limits on the extent to which a person may…
Foreign Pension Plan Contribution and Taxation
U.S. citizens currently residing and working abroad and foreign residing in the United States who are participating in a foreign retirement contribution plan, should evaluate the most recent federal Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) tax reporting requirements to avoid penalties on those assets or future estate transfer. Foreign pension fund contributions…
Do Small Estates Need to go through Probate in New York?
In New York, not every estate needs to pass through the probate process in Surrogate’s Court. The law gives this exemption to so-called “small estates” valued under a certain number and provider the executor to the estate handles the process correctly. Although small estates are allowed to pass through a…
Financial Capacity the Key to Avoiding Probate Controversy
By 2060, the population of the United States 65 years and older will more than double, increasing to over 98 million from 46 million in 2016. Coinciding with this demographic change will be the estimated 14 million elders diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other related disorders associated with the onset…
FAPT vs. DAPT: The Comparative Advantages of Trust Asset Protections
When planning a will, estate, or trust, protecting assets from taxation is a primary concern. Today, U.S.-based estate planning investors have the option of offshore or onshore trust formation. Rooted in the English common law traditions of wealth and property protections, the offshore tax-exempt Foreign Asset Protection Trust (“FAPT”) of…
Laws for Appointing Executors in New York
One of the most important parts about planning your estate is appointing an executor to oversee an estate and carry out your final wishes which can include passing an estate through the probate court, settling estate debts, and ensuring heirs receive their inheritance. Often times, family members or close friends…
Estate Enrichment from Wrongful Death Compensation
On the two-year anniversary of the Artist known as “Prince’s” opioid overdose related death in April 2018, the representative of his Estate sued the Walgreens company and an Illinois Hospital for damages. Like New York, Illinois law allows the representative of a decedent’s estate to pursue a wrongful death action…
Military Pension Apportionment and Divorce
Divorce can be an interpersonally challenging life-change, and complex legal matter. With two Department of Defense (“DoD”) appropriations bills currently before the House and Senate, the rules to pension fund distribution to U.S. federal Air Force, Army, Navy or Military Reserve ex-spouses at time of divorce will be revised in…
CMS Expands Grace Period for Medicare Late Enrollments
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Studies recently announced it has extended its grace period to remove or reduce financial penalties for those late to switching their insurance from plans on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to Medicare. As a result of moving the deadline, seniors and those on disability…