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I have handled divorce cases, estate administrations, and challenges to wills and trusts in my thirty years of practicing law. These areas of law involve dealing with families in some level of crisis and significant emotional strain. The difference between divorce cases, and estates, is that many problems regarding estates can be managed by good […]

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), effective January 1, 2024, was established by Congress to limit the anonymity of corporate structures with the goal of combatting elicit financial activities, enhancing national security, and promoting the integrity and fairness of the financial system.[1] The CTA requires millions of newly established and pre-existing businesses (corporations, limited liability companies,

We frequently get asked questions regarding the Power of Attorney. This legal document holds immense importance, yet many people are unsure about its role and significance. Let’s delve deeper into what a Power of Attorney is and why it is crucial for everyone to have one in place. What is a Power of Attorney? A

A power of attorney is an incredibly important and powerful tool. When signed, it allows the person you appoint, “the Agent,” to take legal and financial actions on your behalf when you cannot act. This can include paying bills, selling property, and investing your funds, for example. However, a well-drafted Power of Attorney that goes

In January of this year, the IRS came out with its Revenue Ruling 2023-2 which clarified the issue regarding adjusted cost basis inside an irrevocable trust. Simply put, most assets either real estate or investments (not annuities and not IRAs) will receive the cost-basis adjustment at the death of the owner. That means that if

After an exhaustive search, Robert Hilton of the law firm Hilton Estate & Elder Law announces that John Maine has joined the practice. Born in 1990, John grew up in Waterville, New York, and graduated from Waterville Senior High School in 2008 with an Advanced Regents Diploma. In 2014 Maine graduated from Binghamton University with

A Health Care Proxy falls within the three core documents all persons 18 or older should complete (the other two being a Will and Power of Attorney). It is necessary when you have the temporary inability to make medical decisions for yourself and more often when you are stricken with a permanent inability to make such

The recent and drastic measures surrounding the coronavirus pandemic have caused us to rethink how we do things and how we prepare ourselves. Where we once thought that we were invulnerable to afflictions of this nature, we now know all too clearly that we are not immune from any such thing.  In the world of

Many people ask, when is a good time to transfer their house to their children. This question is invariably garners a response of “Never”. This article explains the reasons why you should not do so. 1.  Nursing Homes will look to recover assets if it was made within five (5) years of entering a Nursing