** This article has been revised from its original version which was published on June 24, 2019 Sometimes when a loved one passes away, an individual who believes they inherited assets from the decedent will be told at a bank…
The answer to the question “Are gifts made during my lifetime includible in my estate for estate tax purposes?” depends on several factors. Federal For purposes of the Federal Estate Tax, yes, any taxable gifts you make during your…
The short, but perhaps not so obvious answer to the question “Who has the right to determine what happens to my body when I die?” is, YOU – provided you planned ahead of time. We advise many of our…
The practical answer to the question “Do I need a death certificate to probate a will?” is yes. In a practical sense, the Surrogate’s Court generally requires a death certificate in order to probate a Will, as it needs the…
If the nominated Executor in your Last Will and Testament dies, then you should meet with an experienced estate planning attorney to review and possibly update your will to account for the loss. If you do not update your Will,…