Law Offices of Lisa S. Katz, PLLC

04/13/2023

03/14/2021

An excellent NY Times article about potential estate tax changes.

Most people have been able to pass on assets like a family home without federal tax, but that could be changing.

02/21/2021

An interesting article in today's New York Times. We handle all of these issues for our clients, and will be more than happy to guide you through the process and answer any questions.

When you’re planning to divide your estate unequally, explain the reasons to your heirs, and remember: They might be hurt anyway.

07/18/2020

I'm writing a very important PSA - I'm a mom to a Class of 2020 high school graduate, and also an estate planning attorney. My daughter just turned 18 and (hopefully) is off to college in the fall. Once your child turns 18, there are legal documents that he or she must have to make sure they are protected in case of emergency (and especially in light of the COVID pandemic). Because while your 18 year old may still be your baby, in the eyes of the law your baby is now an ADULT! That means you can no longer make important medical or financial decisions for your child without his or her permission. Our job of being a PARENT doesn’t stop just because our children turn 18. If there’s a medical emergency or your child asks for financial help, you NEED the ability to cut through the legal red tape and get involved. Doctors, hospitals and financial institutions may NOT bend the rules on this.

You must have 3 KEY DOCUMENTS in place to make important medical or financial decisions on your child’s behalf: a Health Care Proxy (with HIPAA language), a Living Will, and a financial Power of Attorney. Hopefully you never need to use these documents, but PLEASE make sure you have them just in case!!

I offer a special on these documents for 18 year olds. Feel free to call for an appointment at 914-244-0908 or [email protected]. www.lisakatzlaw.com

And congrats to all those rising freshmen out there!

Law Firm offering trusts & estates, elder law and business transactional services in Westchester, New York, Putnam counties.

05/11/2020

Our firm is here, ready to help with all your advance directives and estate planning - we are meeting with clients from the ages of 18 - 100 via Zoom and can get all of these documents done for you safely and with compassion.

COVID19 has raised fears even among the normally fearless. You should have an estate plan, updated as needed. [https://thecentsofmoney.com/essential-estate-planning-documents-you-need-during-the-pandemic/](https://thecentsofmoney.com/essential-estate-planning-documents-you-need-during-the-pandemic/)

As a result of the coronavirus outbreak,creating your estate plan may be more urgent. We discuss the most important documents you need: beneficiary designations, wills, revocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, and advance medical directives.

05/07/2020

https://www.theinsidepress.com/14-reasons-why-moms-from-its-ma-business-cant-wait-to-leave-home/

        The Moms of It’s Ma Business are looking forward to leaving their homes.  Here are a few reasons:   14) Stop doing dishes (Cindy Greenstein, The Points Mom) 13) So that I can give a big hug to all the people that I’ve missed!!  (Lisa Sklar, Joy of Stylin’) 12) Really miss …

03/16/2020

As an Estate Planning and Elder Law attorney, I serve everyone, including many of our most vulnerable population, like people with young families, seniors and those who are ill.

My primary concern is for the safety and well-being of our clients as the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to impact us all.

I have also heard from many people who during this difficult time want to talk about creating a will, trust, power of attorney, healthcare proxy, etc. for themselves, their loved ones and their college students home from school JUST IN CASE, but they need more flexible options for doing so.

Here is what we are doing as a firm to make sure that you can get your questions answered and get your affairs in order in a safe and easy way:
• We are greeting clients with jazz hands. There’s nothing like jazz hands to keep that social distancing and to make each other smile!
• We are keeping our office as sanitized as possible. For those who can make it in to see us, please know that we are doing our best to keep our office a safe space to protect you.
• Virtual meetings are available. Thanks to technology, we have flexible options to meet with your family virtually in the event that you do not feel comfortable coming into the office or if you are under a quarantine.
• We can come to YOU. We are available to make house visits or visits to hospitals and nursing homes in limited circumstances to help you put a plan in place or have documents signed, while being cognizant of the health risks to our most vulnerable clients.
• If you are sick or symptomatic… please stay home, rest and recover. Again, we can meet with you virtually or reschedule at your convenience.

Please know that your family’s health, comfort and safety are our top priority. We are here to support you in any way necessary. Feel free to contact us at the Law Offices of Lisa S. Katz, PLLC at 914-244-0908 or [email protected].

Be well and enjoy your loved ones, Lisa

12/01/2019

Planning for the incapacity of both ourselves and our parents is an important concept discussed in today’s NY Times.

Here is a concern that baby boomers might not have thought of: Their children could be taking care of them while still in their 20s or 30s.

08/06/2019

It’s August! A month of long, lazy days still stretch out ahead of you. Maybe your kids are returning from sleepaway camp … what a great time for you to go on vacation before the grind of school begins! Whether you are picturing eating gelato in Italy or sipping cocktails on a quiet beach, wouldn’t it be nice to have peace of mind in the knowledge that your vital estate planning documents are in good shape before you go? Knowing that those precious children of yours are protected if something happens to you and your spouse?

The last thing you need to worry about on vacation is what will happen if you don’t come back, and a good set of estate planning documents will keep that worry far from your mind. This typically means setting up a Will (including Trusts for the kids) tailored to the needs of your family before your next journey.

Remember, simply writing a few requests down on a piece of paper does not mean you have a plan in place! In New York, a Will must meet statutory requirements to be considered valid in the eyes of a Court. And if you want trusts for your children or have any special circumstances, you want to make sure that your documents are appropriately drafted to account for them.

So, before you pack that suitcase, talk to us about getting your estate plan in order. We can help you put a Will and trust in place (or update older documents if you have them) and create Powers of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directives that will give someone else permission to handle your affairs and make medical decisions in a true emergency.

Of course, we hope you will never need these documents, and these ideas are not fun to think about! But peace of mind is an essential item to pack, and it works with every adventure!
If you need help with your estate planning documents before your vacation this summer, please call us at the Law Offices of Lisa S. Katz, PLLC at 914-244-0908, and we’ll get you on the calendar before you go away. Then you can truly relax on your trip, have fun and fill your day with activities you love to do. Because vacation time is precious and there’s no point in wasting it worrying!

07/29/2019

Is your baby going to college? August is almost here and if your child has graduated high school, they may soon be off to college. But while you are busy buying extra-long twin bed sheets and fans for those hot dorm rooms, don’t forget the most important items, which you can’t buy in a store. Once your child turns 18, there are legal documents that he or she must have to make sure they are protected in case of emergency. Because while your 18 year old may still be your baby, in the eyes of the law your baby is now an ADULT!

That means you can no longer make important medical or financial decisions for your child without his or her permission. So if your teen has an accident while at college, it’s highly likely that you will be unable to get any information or make decisions about their care. You can’t even call the financial aid office at your child’s school or talk to a credit card company or insurance agency without your teen’s permission.

But let’s face it….your job of being a PARENT doesn’t stop just because your child turns 18. If there’s a medical emergency or your child asks for financial help, you NEED the ability to cut through the legal red tape and get involved. Doctors, hospitals and financial institutions may NOT bend the rules on this.

Fortunately, there’s a solution and it’s something that EVERY parent of a child 18 years or older should make sure to have!

You must have 3 KEY DOCUMENTS in place to make important medical or financial decisions on your child’s behalf (just imagine the nightmare of your child getting hurt hundreds of miles away at school and the hospital refuses to give you so much as a status update!).

These key documents give you the legal permission you need to HELP your child now and stay involved in an emergency. The documents include:

1. A Health Care Proxy (with HIPAA language);
2. A Living Will; and
3. A financial Power of Attorney.

Hopefully you never need to use these legal documents. Think of having these documents in place for your child as a safety net - if you need them, they will be there to protect you and your teen. All you have to do is present them if needed (to a hospital, bank, etc.) and you’ll be able to immediately speak on your child’s behalf. There’s no greater peace of mind than knowing you can stay in control and make critical decisions if necessary!

And don’t forget that having an “adult” child is a huge life-change for mom and dad too, and your estate planning documents may need to be updated accordingly. Your wishes for how your now-adult children will inherit your money if something happens to you may be different than what you set up when they were babies. You may want to amend or set up trusts, and you may also consider placing your adult child in a position of authority in your plans so they have the legal power to help YOU if you experience a problem or medical crisis in the future.

So take a deep breath, and call us at the Law Offices of Lisa S. Katz, PLLC (914-244-0908) to discuss how we can help you keep your sanity and protect your “babies” as they take their next exciting steps away from home!