Splitting from your spouse could completely change the dynamic of your family and disrupt the routine your children rely on. It could leave them feeling confused, angry and uncertain. Given the gravity of the situation, it is not unlikely that your children will react. Knowing some of the challenges they could face along the way may help you prepare to…
When you live in New York and have a loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability, you may question that individual’s ability to make sound decisions regarding his or her own medical care, financial situation and other personal affairs. In some cases, you may question whether your loved one might need something called Article 17-A guardianship. This is a…
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 believe that starting an estate plan later in life is too big a job to handle. It…
Divorce is not an easy solution for relationship issues. Divorce is expensive, complicated and life-changing, not only for the couple involved but for friends and family as well. For this reason, many people hold out as long as they can before resorting to divorce. What drives the divorce decision? Deciding to divorce can feel like a slow burn; the decision…
Divorce can be a scary time because you do not know what you might lose because of the process. Many kinds of assets can fall under property division. You may have heard that retirement accounts are also eligible for division. Does this mean your Social Security is at risk? You deserve to have peace of mind concerning assets that you…
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 taxes. This assumption may have a degree of merit; local residents face the potential of an…
Adults generally have the right and responsibility to make decisions for themselves and to manage their own affairs. However, some adults are unable to do so due to incapacitation. Under these circumstances, an individual can file for the appointment of a guardian for the incapacitated adult. According to the New York State Unified Court System, this is an Article 81…
Even if ending your marriage is the correct decision, you are apt to experience complicated emotions regarding your upcoming divorce. According to Psychology Today, these are likely to include resentment, anger, sadness or even a fear of the unknown. While these emotions are exceedingly common, you should have a strategy for dealing with them. Everyone is different, of course, so…
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 of this power before selecting this person. There are different types of POAs While…
No matter where you are in the divorce process, you may find it hard to cope with all the emotions you feel and the stress that overwhelms your life. Learning about techniques and ways to combat this stress can help you as time goes on. Find an outlet According to Psychology Today, one of the best ways to manage the…
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 this the best idea? In spite of…
As a caregiver for your loved one or elderly parent, you want to provide the best care available and do the right thing. You also want to make sure to keep their financial situation as strong as possible. These admirable goals often hinge on having the proper documentation on hand at all times. The necessary papers AARP emphasizes holding and…
