Many families assume it’s better to disinherit their child with special needs. Their intentions are loving—they don’t want the child to lose their government benefits as a result of inheriting; they don’t want to do their child more harm than good. They think it would be better to leave everything to their other children, trusting that those children will take care of the child with special needs.
Are you and your family prepared for the unexpected? In the event of a sudden illness or injury, advanced directives can save you and your family time, money, and emotional distress.
The three advanced directives everyone should consider are health care proxies, living wills, and powers of attorney, yet these precautions are often overlooked by married couples.
This year I have had the pleasure of working with a married couple who suffered an unforeseen and life-changing event: the wife suffered a debilitating stroke while undergoing a simple medical procedure, and she needed the type of care that is only available in nursing homes.
Unless you have a crystal ball, it’s impossible to predict what the future holds. Should you become unable to make your own decisions, it is imperative to appoint someone to take care of your affairs and make healthcare decisions on your behalf. Additionally, in order to ensure that your assets are passed on to your loved ones without problems, high legal fees and time delays, it is important to start your planning today.
In New York State there are three different types of guardianships:
As parents, we are the natural legal guardians of our minor children. We do not need anyone else to give us the power to talk to our child’s doctor or open a bank account on their behalf. However, in New…
If you are a standby guardian in a Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act Article 17A guardianship (17A guardianship), you should understand your authority and responsibilities you have in that role. If the Surrogate’s Court appointed a guardian for an individual in…
Teenagers today have cars, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and any other gadget or gizmo you could imagine. So, why not an estate plan? When your child or grandchild turns 18 years old there are a few important events that take place…
Given the fact that 43 million people in the United States are currently caring for someone over 50 years old, there is no denying that our population depends on family support for our seniors. And providing this care is expensive.…
A big congratulations to Vincent J. Russo who has yet again, been named the Best Lawyers' Elder Law “Lawyer of the Year” for the Tri-State Area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut). Vincent has been honored in the Best Lawyers…
For parents of special needs children (either mentally or physically), passing control of their children to a stranger or outside health professional can be difficult. Many parents however, do not establish plans for their children should they become too sick to…