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Buried in Paperwork? Suffolk County Probate & Family Court Dysfunction Causes Chaos
Missing files. Unprocessed checks totaling several hundred thousand dollars in filing fees. A procedural and paperwork mess that saw pleadings as far back as 2015 not docketed or scanned. The legal system is complicated enough, but when clerks behind the counter...
If Your Trust Is the Beneficiary of Your IRA, It Could Cost Your Kids a Boatload
If you have the wrong kind of trust, naming it as the beneficiary of your retirement account could cost your kids a lot in extra taxes. How? It happened because you’ve just forced your heirs to report the entire amount as income. When you inherit a retirement...
Michael Jackson’s Intent or Opportunists – Court Sends Ex Business Partners Packing
It's 2006, Michael Jackson and his partners are meeting in a hotel. Jackson promises his partners shares in his company for their loyalty. Flash forward to today, and the business partners were in court, trying to get their agreement enforced against the estate. The...
Naming A Minor Child as a Beneficiary? Not so Fast.
Planning for worst case scenarios is the reason why we get life insurance in the first place. But could some simple wording changes on your life insurance beneficiary form make a big difference? It could make the difference between the court sitting on the money...
ABLE Act vs. Special Needs Trusts
ABLE accounts are an exciting new opportunity for disabled individuals to increase their financial well-being and stability.
What To Do When The Current Trustees Become Disabled
If you find yourself in a position of having to step in as trustee it can be overwhelming. Here is a short list of things to do.
Why A Will Airs Your Dirty Laundry
Ever wonder why you get to hear about all the details around a star’s estate, like Prince? It can be fascinating, learning the details of family rifts, and of course, who will inherit the mansion. Don’t be distracted, though, because you could be exposing those same...
California Tax Tricks for Seniors
Looking for property and income tax breaks? California has a few options for seniors that could keep money in your pocket. Property Tax Deferrals While not eliminating property taxes, seniors 62 and older or disabled individuals with an annual household income of...
Three Essential Steps To Creating An Effective Estate Plan
Have you ever left the house and discovered that you've forgotten your keys... or your wallet... or that important report sitting on your counter? Sometimes you discover that vital missing thing too late to go back and get it, requiring some last minute scramble. An...
Rogue Social Worker Trumped By Dad’s Health Care Directive
[html format="ckeditor" different_values="0"]Imagine having the court system force treatment on you that you don’t want. That was the situation in which Dick Magney found himself.Dick Magney was in the hospital and receiving palliative care. He and his...