When you begin estate planning, the professional with which you work will likely ask you to establish a financial power of attorney. A financial POA is a document that grants an individual the power to make financial decisions on your behalf in specific situations....

Estate Planning
What to look for in a guardian for your child
As a parent, keeping your child safe and secure is one of the top priorities. Naming a guardian to care for the child in the event both parents die should be part of every parent's estate planning process. Considering someone else to care for your child is never easy,...
It is never too late to start an estate plan at any age
Many experts recommend starting your estate plan early in life, typically around the time you start thinking about marriage or children. This makes it easy to update your estate documents over the years as your asset profile changes and develops. You might therefore...
What about estate taxes?
As people in New York become more involved in the estate planning process, they tend to quickly realize that a number of opportunities exist for them to preserve assets for future generations. Most, however, seem to accept that they cannot avoid one expense: estate...
Essential facts about powers of attorney
A power of attorney gives another person, your agent, the ability to act on your behalf if you become incapable of doing so. An agent has the authority to decide your finances, manage your estate and control your healthcare, so you should have a complete understanding...
Is a relative a good choice for your executor?
As an estate plan creator, you need to have an executor in place. This is one of the most - if not the absolute most - crucial figures in your entire estate plan. To that end, you may automatically want to assign one of your closest family members to the spot. But is...
How a Dementia Diagnosis Could Affect Your Parents’ Estate Plan
An elderly parent's dementia diagnosis can profoundly impact an entire family. Estate planning must balance long-term care needs with a parent's desire to leave an inheritance to family members. These are some essential details to consider. Disease progression...
Why you need to update your estate plan after divorce
When you got divorced, your life changed in many different ways. Because of these changes, your estate plan may not reflect your current wishes. According to Gallup, only 46% of Americans have a will, but if you fall into this group, you should take time to revise...
What 3 elements does a basic estate plan need?
When you die without a will in New York, the responsibility of distributing your assets falls on the state. Having a will helps ensure that you maintain control over what happens to your assets after you die. While a will is an integral part of your estate plan, there...
Is it time to update your estate plan?
When you first set up your estate plan, it can take a lot of time and effort. When you finish the initial set-up, you likely feel relieved that the bulk of the work has come to an end. But an estate plan is not a "set and forget" project. Over the years, you will...