A New York estate proceeding in the Surrogate’s Court requires the participation of all interested parties. First and foremost, a decedent’s distributees (next of kin) must be identified so that proper notice, usually in the form of a Citation or Notice, can be sent to the parties at their current…
The appointment of a Guardian under Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law (“MHL”) is subject to the procedures set forth in the statute. The proceeding is commenced by filing an Order to Show Cause and Verified Petition with the New York Supreme Court. The petitioner contains a significant amount…
Estate Planning Attorneys in Nassau and Westchester, as in all other New York Counties, are well aware that the documents they prepare for clients must have clearly worded provisions. A Last Will is a testamentary statement as to where and how a decedent’s assets are to be disposed of. In…
Manhattan Guardianship of an incapacitated person, as well as proceedings throughout New York, requires a Court hearing and a determination that clear and convincing evidence has been presented that a Guardian is necessary. Article 81 of the New York Mental Hygiene Law (“MHL”), sets forth the substantive and procedural guidelines…
New York Guardianship proceedings for incapacitated persons are governed by Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law (MHL). The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has discussed in numerous posts the powers and duties of a Court appointed Guardian. In many instances, a petition for Guardianship is filed with the Court…
Probate of Wills in New York requires the compliance with many provisions that are part of the New York Estates, Powers and Trusts Law (“EPTL”) and the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (“SCPA”). First and foremost, EPTL Section 3-2.1 entitled “Execution and attestation of wills; formal requirements “sets forth the statutory…
The New York Probate of a Last Will and an administration proceeding for an intestate (no Will) estate each requires compliance with provisions in the New York Estates Powers and Trusts Law (EPTL) and the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA). Among the most fundamental provisions of these statutes is the…
Estate settlement in New York, including Westchester and Suffolk counties, requires a consideration of many issues. A post in the New York Probate Lawyer Blog on December 6, 2011 talked about a number of estate tax issues that should be considered, including the current $5 million federal tax exemption and…
The Estate Tax continues to generate many articles and much analysis. As previously reported in the New York Probate Lawyer Blog, the changes in the Federal Estate Tax that occurred in December 2010 resulted in increasing the Federal estate tax exemption to $5 million dollars for 2010, 2011 and 2012.…
The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has reviewed the many instances where family status or kinship can affect an inheritance. In a blog post dated November 22, 2011, there was a discussion regarding the determination of kinship in order to establish a person’s right to receive a share of a…