Estate Planning Before a Reverse Mortgage
A reverse mortgage reshapes an estate plan. The deed, trust, power of attorney and spouse questions to settle before closing, and what heirs face afterward.
Read the articleReverse Mortgages and Estate Planning: Seven Problems to Solve Before Your Family Has To
Seven reverse mortgage issues to settle while the borrower is living: ownership, spouse status, incapacity, long-term care, heir expectations, estate liquidity and communication.
Read the articleTen Life Events That Should Trigger an Estate Plan Review
Estate plans go stale quietly. Ten events, from a refinance to a diagnosis to a move out of state, that should send documents and beneficiary forms back for…
Read the articleEstate Planning for a Second Home in Florida or Another State
An out-of-state house is governed by that state's law. How ancillary probate, Florida homestead rules and domicile questions affect New York families with a second home.
Read the articleNew York Estate Tax vs. Federal Estate Tax: Why Both Matter
New York and federal estate taxes run on separate rules. How the New York cliff works, why portability does not apply here, and what that means for planning.
Read the articleEstate Planning for Blended Families and Second Marriages
Second marriages create competing obligations. How New York's elective share, beneficiary designations and joint ownership can quietly rewrite a blended family's plan.
Read the articleWhy Signing a Trust Is Not Enough: The Importance of Trust Funding
A trust controls only what is actually transferred into it. This guide walks through funding a New York trust asset by asset, and the items that should stay…
Read the articleWill vs. Revocable Living Trust: A New York Decision Guide
A side-by-side comparison of wills and revocable living trusts under New York law, covering probate, privacy, incapacity planning, cost and out-of-state property.
Read the articleTalk through your situation with a lawyer
The initial phone consultation is free and confidential. Have your documents to hand and we will tell you what your realistic options look like — including the option of doing nothing yet.