Ruth P. George Law Pllc

Ruth P. George Law Pllc Probate and Estate Administration, Trust Administration, Elder Law and Estate Planning. Attorney Advertisement.

September is National Preparedness Month. 🛡️Most of us hear that and think of flashlights, batteries, and emergency kits...
09/03/2026

September is National Preparedness Month. 🛡️

Most of us hear that and think of flashlights, batteries, and emergency kits. Yet there is another kind of preparedness that families often overlook: legal estate planning preparedness.

If something happened tomorrow, would your loved ones know who can make medical decisions on your behalf? Would someone have the authority to access your financial accounts and keep the bills paid? Would there be clear direction for your children?

Being prepared is not always about expecting the worst but instead is about making sure the people you love are never left guessing during an already difficult moment.

Documents like a trust, a will, a Power of Attorney, a Health Care Proxy/Living Will, and others are the legal estate planning versions of the emergency kit: you are deeply glad they exist and can be counted on, as needed.

This month is a good reminder to ask the question. Are you and your loved ones prepared in a legal fashion when it comes to estate planning matters?

https://www.ruthpgeorgelaw.com/practice-areas/estate-planning

“Will estate taxes apply to my estate?”It’s a concern that comes with confusion about various tax planning and tax impli...
08/28/2026

“Will estate taxes apply to my estate?”

It’s a concern that comes with confusion about various tax planning and tax implications, in general.

With respect to estate taxes, some people believe that these taxes apply to everyone, while others believe there is no way estate taxes could apply to them. In both cases, it’s important to explore potential estate tax concerns, but also potential planning opportunities regarding income taxes and capital gains taxes.

For estate taxes, a few things to note:

→ The Federal estate tax exemption is $15,000,000 per individual for 2026.

→ The New York State estate tax exemption is $7,350,000 per individual in 2026.

→ If the New York State taxable estate is greater than 105% of the New York State estate tax exemption, the estate does not get the benefit of the New York State exemption at all. This is known as the New York State estate tax “cliff” which means the New York estate tax due is not reduced by the New York State estate tax exemption.

→ New York State requires an individual to use their applicable exemption during life or at passing, or it is forever unused; this is generally referred to as “use it or lose it”, meaning the exemption cannot be saved for later use by the surviving spouse. This is unlike the Federal estate tax exemption, which, upon an estate tax return filing at the first spouse’s death, allows the unused Federal estate tax exemption to be transferred to the surviving spouse for later use. This is generally referred to as “portability”, but again only applies with respect to the Federal estate tax exemption.

For many individuals, the takeaway is reassuring: estate taxes are not a concern (unless winning mega-bucks in a lottery comes into play!). But for other individuals, thoughtful planning can make a significant difference with potential estate taxes. As well, proactive planning with respect to other potential taxes (i.e., income and capital gains) can be quite beneficial.

Taxes are one of the considerations built into every estate plan I work on. If you’re wondering where your situation stands, that’s a conversation worth having.

https://www.ruthpgeorgelaw.com/contact

Myth: “I don’t have a ton of money, so I don’t really need an estate plan.”Reality: Estate planning has never been just ...
08/26/2026

Myth: “I don’t have a ton of money, so I don’t really need an estate plan.”

Reality: Estate planning has never been just about wealth.

Think about what you do have. A car. A bank account. Personal belongings that carry meaning. Perhaps children who would need a guardian, or pets who depend on you, or digital accounts and photos that hold a lifetime of memories. And people you love who would be left navigating decisions without direction.

Estate planning also isn’t only about what happens at your passing. Documents like a Power of Attorney and a Health Care Proxy answer critical questions during your life: Who can handle financial matters for you if you can’t? Who can make medical decisions on your behalf? Those questions matter for everyone, at every asset level.

In fact, planning can matter even more when resources are modest. When there’s less room for error, avoiding unnecessary court proceedings, delays, and expenses makes a real difference for yourself and loved ones.

An estate plan isn’t a luxury for the wealthy. It’s clarity and protection for you and your loved ones, whatever your situation looks like.

Some of your most significant assets may pass completely outside of your will. Life insurance. Retirement accounts. Acco...
08/19/2026

Some of your most significant assets may pass completely outside of your will.

Life insurance. Retirement accounts. Accounts with payable-on-death or transfer-on-death designations. These often are set up to pass directly to whoever is named on the beneficiary designation form, no matter what your will says.

Which means it’s worth asking: when did you last look at yours?

• The retirement account from two jobs ago.
• The life insurance policy naming someone who has since passed away, with no alternate listed.
• The account that still names a former spouse.
• The designation naming one child “for convenience” when the intention was for all children to share.
• The form filled out decades ago that no one has seen since.
• The designations that quietly conflict with the careful planning in your will or trust.

Any one of these can undo an otherwise thoughtful estate plan. Your beneficiary designations aren’t an afterthought; they are a core part of your plan, and they need to be coordinated with your will, any trusts, and your overall goals.

If you’re not sure your designations line up with the rest of your plan, that’s exactly the kind of review worth doing sooner rather than later.

And remember to keep your options open - sometimes setting up a lifetime trust and naming the trust as the beneficiary or alternate beneficiary on certain assets can be beneficial.

For parents of a child with a disability, the 18th birthday carries a legal change that catches many families off guard....
08/17/2026

For parents of a child with a disability, the 18th birthday carries a legal change that catches many families off guard.

At age 18, a child becomes a legal adult, regardless of their ability to make decisions for themselves. That means parents no longer have automatic authority to make medical decisions, access health information, or handle financial matters on their child’s behalf. The care hasn’t changed. The daily reality hasn’t changed. But in the eyes of the law, everything has.

For families whose adult child cannot manage these decisions independently, planning ahead is essential. Depending on the situation, that may mean pursuing a guardianship so a parent or other appropriate person can continue making decisions on the adult child’s behalf, or considering whether less restrictive options fit the individual’s capacity and needs. This planning also works hand in hand with the family’s broader estate plan, including a Special Needs Trust to protect eligibility for important government benefits.

The right approach depends entirely on your child and your family’s circumstances. What matters most is not waiting until an emergency forces the issue.

With back-to-school season here and many families thinking about transitions, this is a timely conversation.

If you’re navigating this stage with your family, I’d be happy to talk through what planning could look like for your situation.

https://www.ruthpgeorgelaw.com/contact

08/14/2026

Lifetime trust planning means determining if you want a revocable or an irrevocable trust.

I’m so grateful for the kind words and trust of my clients. Each story is a reminder that estate planning isn’t just abo...
08/14/2026

I’m so grateful for the kind words and trust of my clients. Each story is a reminder that estate planning isn’t just about documents; it’s about listening, guiding, and helping people feel truly supported.

My goal is always to bring clarity and calm to what can feel like a complicated process, so every client walks away feeling confident in their plan.

If you’re looking for guidance that combines knowledge with care, reach out anytime.

I started trying out these lifting straps recently.I’m trying them out to take some of the strain off my forearms during...
08/13/2026

I started trying out these lifting straps recently.

I’m trying them out to take some of the strain off my forearms during certain exercises.

And, of course, I can’t help but think of the estate planning analogy … which is … to use the estate planning tools available to make things easier for yourself and your loved ones.

The key with estate planning is to be proactive!

08/13/2026

I took this video today while walking our dog.

Much more can be said … but, for the takeaway - think of taking time to appropriately assess factors and plan for (the unknown) future.

Online will services promise a quick, inexpensive way to check estate planning off your list. And I understand the appea...
08/11/2026

Online will services promise a quick, inexpensive way to check estate planning off your list. And I understand the appeal. The forms look official. The price looks right. The whole thing takes an afternoon.

But here’s what those websites don’t show you: the aftermath.

In my work, I see it more often than you might think. A family arrives at probate with a will that wasn’t executed in accordance with New York’s legal requirements, and suddenly, the document meant to provide clarity becomes the source of the problem.

Or the will is technically valid, but a vague provision leaves everyone guessing about what was actually intended.

Or the will says one thing while the beneficiary designations say another, and no one ever noticed the conflict.

The hard part is that these problems tend to surface at the worst possible time.

A will only truly means something when it’s admitted to probate. That means it needs to be prepared and executed with the future in mind: anticipating scrutiny, anticipating questions, and accounting for your family and loved ones’ unique circumstances. A form can’t do that thinking for you.

The least expensive option today can become the most expensive problem for your loved ones later.

If you have DIY documents in place and aren’t sure whether they’ll hold up, a review is a worthwhile conversation.

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Williamsville, NY
14221

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