What are the most important qualities I should look for in choosing the executor of my estate?

Jun 19, 2017 / By: Laura Easton

Category: General

What are the most important qualities I should look for in choosing the executor of my estate?  In order of importance, they are (a) honesty, (b) has the time to do the job, (c) has...

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Is it better to appoint a family member to be in charge of your funeral and burial arrangements, or to pre-arrange everything with a funeral home?

Jun 13, 2017 / By: Laura Easton

Category: General

Is it better to appoint a family member to be in charge of your funeral and burial arrangements, or to pre-arrange everything with a funeral home?  In some families, the need to control those decisions...

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The Alpern Law Firm is proud to announce…..

Jun 6, 2017 / By: Laura Easton

Category: General

The Alpern Law Firm is proud to announce that Attorney Jack N. Alpern has again been selected by the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York to teach his highly acclaimed course “The Inheritance We Leave...

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How important is it to rent a safe deposit box?

Jun 5, 2017 / By: Laura Easton

Category: General

How important is it to rent a safe deposit box?  That is where all of your original documents (the ones you actually signed) should be kept. There are no fireproof safes for homes; typically, they...

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Is there a difference between a Living Will and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care?

May 30, 2017 / By: Laura Easton

Category: General

Is there a difference between a Living Will and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care?  Yes, definitely.  If you sign a Living Will, that means two doctors will determine if life support is...

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Are my retirement plans protected against being used up to pay for nursing home care?

May 22, 2017 / By: Laura Easton

Category: General

Are my retirement plans, like IRAs or 401Ks, protected against being used up to pay for nursing home care? No.  Such assets are “available resources,” meaning that they need to be used up just like...

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Which is the better estate plan, having a Last Will or Living Trust?

May 15, 2017 / By: Laura Easton

Category: General

Which is the better estate plan, having a Last Will or Living Trust?  The answer depends upon many factors, such as do you want to avoid probate; is it important to protect the inheritance you...

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How often should your estate plan be reviewed?

May 8, 2017 / By: Laura Easton

Category: General

How often should your estate plan be reviewed?  That depends on many factors, such as marriage or divorce of a child, receipt of an inheritance, retirement, changes in laws, a change in attitude about children...

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Will a prenuptial agreement protect my assets against the costs of nursing home care?

May 1, 2017 / By: Laura Easton

Category: General

If I get married, will a prenuptial agreement protect my assets against the costs of nursing home care if my spouse is in a nursing home?  Usually not!!!!!  With certain limitations, the assets of both...

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If I have life insurance with cash surrender value and I go into a nursing home, will that policy have to be cashed in to help pay for my care?

Apr 25, 2017 / By: Laura Easton

Category: General

If I have life insurance with cash surrender value and I go into a nursing home, will that policy have to be cashed in to help pay for my care? Usually, the answer is yes,...

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