The Story of a Man Who Died Without A Will John Jones was a 57-year old bachelor living in his own home in Queens. He had never married or had children, and his parents were no longer alive. John had a brother, but they were estranged and hadn’t seen each other...
How Can a Power of Attorney Help You Stay Out of Court? Q: What is a Power of Attorney, and how can it help me stay out of Court? A: A Power of Attorney is an important legal document which allows someone else to legally act on your behalf with regard to financial...
New Year, new numbers… The estate and gift tax exclusion amounts will increase with the New Year. Individuals who have assets in excess of the exclusion amounts should consider creating a plan to eliminate or reduce estate and gift taxes. For someone who dies in...
The New York Times has been running an eye-opening series on the crisis in long-term care in this country. We covered the first article in the series, which explored the cost of long-term care, in an earlier blog. The most recent article – Desperate Families...
Protect Your Pets by Providing For Them in Your Estate Plan Pets… They greet us when we come home. They love us unconditionally. They protect and comfort us. They provide companionship. Essentially, they are a part of the family. Did you know that parrots can...
Thanksgiving is a Good Time to Reassess We hope that you had a lovely and restful Thanksgiving. It’s such a wonderful time of the year… with a focus on two of our favorite things: food and family.We hope you enjoyed plenty of both. Change is a natural part...
Since 1991, Makofsky Valente Law Group, P.C. (and its predecessor firms), consisting of a compassionate team of attorneys, paralegals and support staff, has devoted its efforts to providing competent and caring legal services in the areas of Elder Law, Trust and Estates, Probate and Estate Administration, Medicaid Planning and Applications, Guardianships, and Special Needs Planning. Founding Partner, Ellen G. Makofsky, is a Certified Elder Law Attorney ("CELA").*