POWER OF ATTORNEY REVOKED, ENTIRE ESTATE LEFT TO THE SALVATION ARMY

The Supreme Court revoked a Power of Attorney in which the AIP, while competent, had designated her adult daughter to serve as attorney-in-fact, due to the daughter’s self-dealing and breach of her fiduciary duty, but declined to revoke the Health Care Proxy in which the AIP designated her daughter to also serve as her health […]

POWER OF ATTORNEY REVOKED BY NY COURT

Attorneys Robert Friedman and Michael Ranzenhofer were successful in having a power of attorney revoked. Our client’s mother, while competent, had designated her adult daughter to serve as her power of attorney and health care proxy. The daughter used her mother’s credit cards, automobile and bank accounts for her own personal use. A Mental Hygiene […]

WHEN SHOULD I UPDATE MY WILL?

You should review your will with your attorney every few years or when there is: A birth or adoption A change of residence The executor, guardian or trustee named in your will become unavailable You or your beneficiaries’ financial worth increases dramatically A change in your marital status or that of a family member A […]

IS OWNING MY HOME JOINTLY WITH MY WIFE A SUBSTITUTE FOR HAVING A WILL?

No. If you and your spouse bought your home together, she automatically gets ownership of it upon your death. But what if you both die together? The home that you worked so hard for might be sold and the proceeds controlled by a stranger until your children reach the age of eighteen (18), at which […]

WHAT IS A NY SCPA 1404 HEARING?

Any party to the proceeding, before or after filing objections to the probate of the will, may examine any or all of the attesting witnesses, the person who prepared the will, and if the will contains a provision designed to prevent a disposition or distribution from taking effect in case the will, or any part […]

WHY ARE NY JOINT WILLS NOT USED?

A joint will, also known as a mutual will, is a single will signed by both spouses which continues to be a valid document, controlling on the surviving spouse after the other spouse dies. Joint wills are authorized by New York state law. The joint will contains instructions which both spouses declare to be their […]

WHAT IS DURESS?

Duress is that which prevents the intent of the testator from being exercised by the use of force or the threat of harm. It does not depend upon the motive of the wrongdoer, but rather upon the subjective fears of the testator, and is often proven by the doing of a wrongful act of violence […]

HOW IS UNDUE INFLUENCE PROVEN BY A NEW YORK WILL OBJECTANT?

At a minimum, the objectant must make a showing of actual acts of undue influence, including time and place of the occurrence. An objectant seeking to prove undue influence must prove three elements: motive, opportunity and actual acts of undue influence. It must be shown that the influence exercised amounted to a moral coercion, which […]