A family trust can help protect assets, preserve wealth, and simplify estate planning in 2026. Learn the differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts, how to choose a trustee, determine beneficiaries, and properly fund a trust. The right trust structure can provide long-term financial security and efficient wealth transfer for future generations.

National Elder Law Month highlights the growing importance of elder law planning, including long-term care decisions, Medicaid planning, incapacity preparedness, and protection against financial exploitation. Learn how proactive estate planning, trusts, and public benefit coordination can help seniors and families navigate aging, healthcare transitions, and asset protection with greater confidence and security.

Choosing a guardian for your children is one of the most important estate planning decisions parents make. Learn the key factors to consider, including shared values, financial and emotional readiness, family dynamics, and geographic concerns. Without a formal guardianship designation, courts—not parents—will decide who raises your children if the unexpected occurs.

Digital assets are a growing estate planning risk. Learn five ways estate attorneys can help clients organize, inventory, and protect online accounts, cryptocurrency, and digital property. Proper planning ensures fiduciary access, prevents loss, and secures sensitive data, helping families avoid delays, disputes, and cybersecurity risks when administering modern estates.

In New York estate planning, executors and trustees serve different roles. Executors manage and settle a decedent’s estate through probate, while trustees oversee trust assets for beneficiaries over time. Learn the key differences in appointment, responsibilities, duration, and purpose to better understand estate administration and trust management in New York.

When an executor or administrator blocks the sale of inherited property, New York’s RPAPL § 993 (Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act) offers a structured, court-supervised solution. Learn when to file a petition, how appraisals and buyouts work, and when to seek fiduciary removal under SCPA §§ 711 and 719 to resolve disputes fairly.

Estate planning for intellectual property owners is essential to protect patents, copyrights, trademarks, and royalties. Learn how to properly document, register, and transfer IP assets to avoid disputes, loss of value, or abandonment. A well-structured estate plan ensures continued management, income generation, and preservation of your creative and financial legacy.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) permanently strengthens ABLE accounts, expanding tax-free savings options for individuals with disabilities. Learn eligibility rules, contribution limits, SSI and Medicaid impacts, and new provisions like ABLE to Work and 529 rollovers. These updates enhance financial planning flexibility, independence, and long-term security for families and beneficiaries.

Avoid the five biggest estate planning mistakes: inequity in distributions, poor fiduciary choices, lack of communication, indecision, and doing nothing. Learn why equal isn’t always fair, why timing matters, and how proactive planning reduces family conflict and litigation risk. Act now to protect your legacy and ensure your wishes are honored.

Review estate planning basics this fall to ensure your will, trusts, beneficiaries, and powers of attorney reflect major life changes. Learn when to update your estate plan, how to protect digital assets, and which tools—like trusts, gifting strategies, and regular legal reviews—can strengthen your plan and protect your family’s future.

Applying for Medicaid requires meticulous financial documentation. Learn why creating a strong paper trail—including five years of bank statements, property records, tax returns, and gift history—is critical to approval. This guide explains what documents caseworkers request, how to prepare in advance, and how proper recordkeeping can prevent delays, denials, and costly complications during the Medicaid application process.

Worried about creditors accessing your property? Learn how New York residents can protect assets using homestead exemptions, LLCs, irrevocable trusts, insurance, and strategic titling. This guide explains what works, what doesn’t under New York law, and why timing matters. Discover practical, legal asset protection strategies—and why DIY approaches can backfire—before a claim or lawsuit arises.