Estate Planning — New York State

What Documents Belong in a Complete New York Estate Plan?

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:30:32 +0000

A complete New York estate plan is built from four core documents working together: a last will and testament, one or more trusts, a durable power of attorney, and a health care proxy. The will directs who inherits your property, a trust can let your family avoid probate or protect assets, the power of attorney […]

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New York Estate Tax 2026: The $7.35M Exemption and the Cliff

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:30:32 +0000

For deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026, New York’s basic exclusion amount is $7,350,000 — meaning an estate at or below that figure pays no New York estate tax. But there is a trap unique to New York: the estate tax “cliff.” Once a taxable estate exceeds 105% of the exemption — $7,717,500 […]

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

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:30:32 +0000

Medicaid planning protects your home and savings from the cost of long-term nursing care, and in New York it turns on one critical rule: the five-year look-back. When you apply for institutional (nursing home) Medicaid, the state reviews the prior 60 months of your finances. Any uncompensated transfers, gifts, or asset moves made during that […]

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Including Digital Assets in Your New York Estate Plan

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:30:32 +0000

To include digital assets in your New York estate plan, you must inventory every account and file you own online, grant your fiduciaries clear legal authority to access them under New York’s digital-assets law, and weave that authority into the core documents that already govern your estate — your will, your trust, your durable power […]

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

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:30:32 +0000

There is no single magic number, but the practical answer for most New Yorkers is this: review your estate plan every three to five years, and update it immediately after any major life event or change in the law. An estate plan is not a one-time document you sign and forget. It is a living […]

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A New York Estate Planning Checklist for 2026

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:30:32 +0000

A complete New York estate planning checklist for 2026 comes down to four coordinated documents — a will, one or more trusts, a durable power of attorney, and a health care proxy — assembled around your specific family, your specific assets, and your specific goals. There is no one-size-fits-all plan. The right checklist for a […]

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Estate Planning With a Pending Green Card in New York

Mon, 18 May 2026 05:18:00 +0000

Waiting on a green card or citizenship in New York? You can still protect your family with a will, trust, and power of attorney. Here is how.

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