So you’ve taken the time to create an estate plan, including a last will and testament, and one day you wake up to realize that you have misplaced the document. Relax. The situation is more common than you might realize, and a lot of people come to an estate planning lawyer because they believe they’ve lost their will. Even if you inadvertently misplaced the document or destroyed it, it isn’t the end of the world. Further, if you have a relative who has died and you can’t locate that will, … [Read more...] about Help! I’ve Lost my Will!
Wills
Digital Wills in New York: 3 Issues
One common question that many people have is how they can make sure their digital information or material they have stored on their computer will not get lost after they are gone. Some people, for example, say that they have written their own digital will and want to use that as their last will and testament. Even though information technology, personal computers, and the Internet have changed the way we live our daily lives, the law is not exactly up-to-date when it comes to the role these … [Read more...] about Digital Wills in New York: 3 Issues
Why You Should Probably Skip Co-Executors in New York
A few weeks ago we blogged about the death of actor James Gandolfini and how he had several interesting clauses in his will, including the naming of co-executors of his estate. In general, it’s not a good idea to name more than one executor to manage your estate after you die. While this isn’t a guarantee that your estate will run into difficulty, it can be a practical hurdle that causes delays, increased costs, and even runs the risk of causing family disputes. Here’s why having co-executors in … [Read more...] about Why You Should Probably Skip Co-Executors in New York
Gandolfini’s Will Details Revealed
James Gandolfini, the actor renowned for his role as Tony Soprano in the HBO television program “The Sopranos,” died at the age of 51 in June after suffering a heart attack in Italy. He left behind an estate estimated to be worth about $70 million, as well as a last will and testament that was recently submitted to a Manhattan Surrogate’s Court. The details of the will show that while Mr. Gandolfini did take some appropriate estate planning steps, he didn’t do as much as he should have. In … [Read more...] about Gandolfini’s Will Details Revealed
Having a Child After You Make Your Will
Estate plans are not static creations that, once you make, you can leave and not look at afterwards. Like your car, your plan requires regular maintenance. In some situations you may need to revisit your plan as soon as possible. One of these situations is when you have made a last will and testament and, afterwards, have a child. Revisions When you make a will you make choices about your property and how you want to distribute it after death. Most people choose to leave their children … [Read more...] about Having a Child After You Make Your Will
