Nearly two-thirds of all Americans have a robust social media life, as well as an average of 25 online accounts, including social networking accounts, banking and financial accounts, according to a Microsoft study conducted in 2007. By now, those numbers may have increased. These digital accounts are now considered personal assets, and figuring out how […]

Ernie Banks, known as “Mr. Cub” had been diagnosed with dementia just days before he signed a will leaving his small estate to a caregiver, charges his estranged wife. Seems like she isn’t done with him yet. In a case for resolving marital disputes sooner rather than later, the battle between Ernie Banks and his […]

FINRA launched the Securities Helpline for Seniors on April 20, and it became very popular, very quickly. In addition to calls from seniors, many calls came from adult children whose parents had died. The heirs weren’t sure what they needed to do to track down their parents’ broker-dealer account assets and how to transfer assets. […]

In 2012, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling made it legal for nursing homes in New York State to use and enforce arbitration agreements in admission contracts. Until that decision, patients and nursing homes with disputes had no option but to litigate – expensive and time consuming for all parties. Buffalo attorney Julie Bargnesi brings a […]

Being an executor of an estate is not an easy task, especially when it is for the first time. When you are named as an executor and the person has died, knowing what to do and how to prioritize the tasks can be challenging. In the best case scenario, the person has had a chance […]

For most families, the idea of being out of touch with a sibling for decades is unusual. Even more unusual would be learning that an estranged sibling had passed away six years ago and no one in the family knew. Stranger still – learning that your brother had left you two bank accounts worth $81,000. […]

Congratulations – you have an estate plan! Now it’s time to turn your attention to ensuring that these important documents are safe and that they can be located when they are needed. Here are some tips on how to accomplish both of these important tasks. If you have become incapacitated or pass away and no […]

Estate planning involves far more than a will to transfer assets after death, and is not just for the wealthy. If you have a family and property of any kind, you need an estate plan. Every individual and every family has different needs when it comes to creating an estate plan. There is no one-size-fits-all […]

For nearly two decades, celebrity tabloids and the estate planning bar have had a shared interest in the long-running litigation between Anna Nicole Smith’s estate and the estate of J. Howard Marshall II. A recent decision may bring the battle to a close – or it may simply be on pause. It is sad that […]

Perhaps having attained success that leads to wealth makes wealthy people think that they are not going to make any mistakes in estate planning. Unfortunately, the wealthy are just as likely as the rest of us to make mistakes. Most wealthy people hear about the expensive mistakes that their peers make and think they’ll never […]