Estate Planning — statewide-NY

What Is the New York Estate Tax Cliff (and How to Avoid It)?

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:30:41 +0000

The New York estate tax “cliff” is a quirk in New York State law that can cause an estate to lose its entire estate-tax exemption — not just the amount over the limit — once the estate’s value climbs past a narrow threshold. For deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026 through December 31, […]

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Medicaid Planning and Your New York Estate (5-Year Look-Back)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:30:41 +0000

Medicaid planning protects your New York estate by legally repositioning assets — typically into an irrevocable trust governed by EPTL Article 7 — far enough in advance that they no longer count against you when you apply for Medicaid long-term care. The catch is the five-year look-back: New York reviews the prior 60 months of […]

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How Often Should You Update Your Estate Plan in New York?

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:30:41 +0000

As a general rule, New York residents should formally review their estate plan every three to five years — and immediately after any major life event or change in the law. An estate plan is not a “sign it and forget it” document; it is a living set of instructions that must keep pace with […]

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Health Care Proxy vs. Power of Attorney in New York

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:30:41 +0000

If you are a New York State resident asking whether a Health Care Proxy and a Power of Attorney are the same thing, the short answer is no — they are two separate documents that cover two entirely different areas of your life. A Health Care Proxy (governed by New York Public Health Law Article […]

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Estate Planning for Blended Families in New York

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:30:41 +0000

For New York blended families, estate planning means deliberately coordinating a will, one or more trusts, a durable power of attorney, and a health care proxy so that your current spouse is provided for and your children from a prior marriage are not accidentally disinherited. Without that coordination, New York’s default rules can hand your […]

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A New York Estate Planning Checklist for 2026

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:30:41 +0000

If you are a New York State resident asking what a complete estate plan should include in 2026, the short answer is this: a coordinated set of four documents — a last will and testament, one or more trusts, a durable power of attorney, and a health care proxy — built around New York’s own […]

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Does Immigration Status Affect Your NY Estate Plan?

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:49:00 +0000

Green-card holder or non-citizen in New York? Learn how immigration status affects your NY will, trust, marital deduction, and when to call an immigration lawyer.

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