Retirement account owners, many of whose retirement balances have been pummeled by a stock market drop due to the coronavirus pandemic, do not have to take mandatory withdrawals this year. 

As more and more people marry more than once, prenuptial agreements have become an important estate planning tool. Without a prenuptial agreement, your new spouse may be able to invalidate your existing estate plan.

According to a 2017 Gallup poll, 73% of Americans support laws allowing patients to seek the assistance of a physician in ending their life. Another Gallup poll, conducted in 2018, found that 72% of Americans believe doctors should be allowed by law to end a terminally ill patient’s life if the patient and his or …

Most of us think that we have created a comprehensive estate plan if our plan covers all occurrences that may arise after our death. Unfortunately, this is a dangerous mistake. Estate planning is not limited to death planning. There are several ways in which your estate plan can drastically impact you and your loved ones’ …

No aspect of estate planning brings out as much emotional decision-making as the division of assets.  Many people think, “I love you”, so I will leave you everything.  In order to understand why “I love you”  wills are, contrary to their name and not the most caring of estate planning gestures, it is important to …

For many estate planning clients, their retirement account represents the majority of their wealth.  Typically these accounts are held in “tax qualified plans” such as a 401(k), or an IRA.  Because they are not subject to income tax until withdrawn — typically at age 70 1/2 — they provide the ability to accumulate large amounts of wealth during one’s lifetime.  In addition, …

Generally, if you are domiciled in the United States (US) at death, your estate is subject to US estate taxes. The determination of domicile is subjective. If you are a permanent resident, however, and have a green card, you will undoubtedly be considered domiciled in the US.  But does that mean that you are treated the same as a …

As an Elder Law Attorney, clients often come to me when nearing 65, overwhelmed by the many alternatives available to them in choosing their healthcare. They ask: Do I need both Medicare A and B? Do I need a Prescription Drug Plan? What about a Supplement Plan? or Medicare Advantage Plan? In this Blog we answer these important questions asked by seniors as they …

Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorneys are often asked by clients whether a reverse mortgage is the right choice for them. The answer of course is that it depends on the circumstances. Are you over the age of 62? Do you have substantial equity in your home but limited cash resources to pay bills?  Do …

I applaud those of you who have taken the time to do an estate plan and protect your assets for yourself and your children. But is it enough to simply place those documents in a safe deposit box at a bank or fireproof safe (“Security Box”) within your home and think that you are done? …