Who Can Object to a Will?

If you’ve been left out of a will, you may have rights. Certain people are allowed to contest, or object, to a will’s validity, per New York law. “Probate” is the process of proving to a court that a will is valid. In New York, the universe o… Read More
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Categories: Estate Litigation

How Joint Bank Accounts Work, And How Sometimes, They Don’t

Joint bank accounts make great estate planning tools, except when they don’t. Whether a joint bank account is right for you depends on on a lot of factors. Joint bank accounts make perfect sense for some people. They can cause family infighting and… Read More
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Categories: Estate Litigation

Kinship Proceedings in Surrogate’s Court: What They Are, How They Work, and How They’re Won

In a Kinship Proceeding, the New York Surrogate’s Court seeks to determine who is entitled to inherit from the estate of a deceased person who did not have a Will. The Surrogate’s Court is the court in New York State which handles most matters re… Read More
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Categories: Estate Litigation

What are Will Contests and Objections to Probate?

In New York, before a last will and testament is deemed a valid instrument, the general rule is that the person named executor in the will must first prove the will as valid. This process is called “probate“. Probate is the latin word for “prov… Read More
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Categories: Estate Litigation

Lost Will: “I can’t find the original Will. Help!”

When someone passes away in New York with a Will, generally, the Will must first be proven as valid to the Surrogate’s Court Judge. Proving a Will as valid to a Court is known as the “probate” process. “Probate” is the Latin word for “pro… Read More
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Categories: Estate Litigation