Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Understanding End-of-Life Terminology
For the family of a person on hospice or nearing the end of life, there are many emotions to deal with. Grief, sadness, depression, anxiety, and maybe even a bit of guilt can plague loved ones. Perhaps you are dealing with concerns about your loved one’s estate and how you will manage it when… Read More »
Beware The Rising Costs of Prescriptions as You Age
We are always told to save for retirement, because you just never know how long you might live. We are told to save enough to not only live well in retirement, but also enough to offset for inflation. As the price of coffee, gas, and groceries continue to escalate, we are told to assume… Read More »
To Give or Not to Give
It’s never a good idea to give an unwanted gift, even in a will or a trust. Giving someone something that they don’t want is insensitive at best, but giving something that could actually do harm is downright careless. Yet, every year, plenty of people make the unwise choice to give large gifts to… Read More »
New York’s Requirements for Corporations
Corporations have many obligations to fulfill as part of the requirements for keeping an active entity. Corporations are heavily regulated. As a result, heavy regulation is met with heavy enforcement. Like most corporations in the U.S., New York State corporations are required to produce certain documents and perform certain actions on a periodical basis…. Read More »
Common Buyer Contingency Clauses in Real Estate Contracts
As a buyer, placing a contingency in the real estate contract can be rather advantageous. Some real estate contracts pass without contingencies, but usually in favor of the seller’s wants. This is usually when a piece of property is being sold “as-is.” However, outside of “as-is” contracts, each party will try to assert their… Read More »
Breach of Contract Issues in Real Estate Contracts
Real Estate contracts are traditional contracts that set out the details as well as the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved. The contract in essence is a promise between the buyer and the seller. The buyer makes a legal promise to purchase the home at the agreed upon price and the seller promises… Read More »
Possible Disputes in a Guardianship
Guardianship and Disputes A guardianship is a legal relationship created by court of law between an assigned guardian and a person who becomes a “ward.” It is a powerful resource and can be quite effective in the area of elder care and asset planning. The guardianship usually covers an incapacitated adult or sometimes a… Read More »
The Legal Mechanics of Lost Wills in New York Surrogate Courts
A lost will is a will that is known to have once existed and cannot now be located; and at the same time, it is not known to have been revoked. In short, the will is lost and cannot be found by any of the heirs of the decedent. As a result, the will… Read More »
Planning For Nursing Home Care
Placing an elderly loved one in nursing home care requires a lot of planning. It also involves legal questions surrounding the person’s medical care, finances and his or her estate. Before placing your relative into nursing home care, you must ensure that they have their affairs in order to facilitate a smooth transition. Emergencies… Read More »
How to Disinherit a Loved One
Estate planning is an interesting area of the law. Estate planning is a very personal need for the individuals who engage in the process. However, the legal system has reduced this really personal process to a technical exercise. This is also true for will writing and it is evident in situations where testators want… Read More »