Welcome to our Blog

When clients sign their advance directives, a common question is: "Can my living will say that my health care agent must be consulted before the doctors make a decision?" This comes up often when the agent has medical training, such as a nurse, and the client wants that person to weigh in. The answer starts with understanding what a living will does, and what it does not do, under New York law. First, No One Is Allowed to End Your Life Many people worry that signing a living

Dear New York Homeowner, Transfer-on-Death deeds commonly called TOD Deeds have become an increasingly popular estate planning tool in New York. The appeal is obvious: name a beneficiary on your deed, and when you pass away, the property transfers to them automatically. No probate. No court. Simple, right? Not exactly. What nobody tells you upfront is what happens after the homeowner dies and what title companies in New York are now requiring before that property can actuall

When someone passes away in New York without a will and their only major asset is real estate, families often wonder: “Do we really need to go through the whole court process just to keep the family home?” Sometimes, the answer is no. In certain cases, an “heirs-at-law deed” can help transfer the property without full court administration, but this option is only available in limited situations and not all title companies will approve it to insure title for the new buyer.

When a loved one passes away, many people worry about the financial implications, particularly regarding debt. A 2016 study by Experian found that 73% of Americans will die in debt, raising concerns about whether relatives will inherit these financial burdens. Let’s clarify what happens to debt after death and what responsibilities, if any, family members may have. The Truth About Inherited Debt In most cases, relatives are not responsible for the debts of a deceased family m