Posted on May 11, 2021 in Estate Planning

Many people equate estate planning with creating a last will and testament. While a will can certainly be a useful estate planning tool, several other estate planning instruments may also benefit you and your loved ones. Trusts are commonly used to transfer assets without needing to go through the probate process. Trusts are especially beneficial for individuals with minor children or wish to leave an inheritance to someone with a disability. Utilizing trusts in your estate plan can also help you protect assets from creditors and minimize estate taxes.

How a Revocable Living Trust May Benefit You and Your Family

There is a trust for almost every estate planning objective a person can have. However, most trusts fall into two main categories: revocable trusts and irrevocable trusts. A revocable living trust is a trust that you establish during your lifetime and use to transfer assets to heirs upon your death. You maintain control over the property in the trust until you pass away. At this point, your successor trustee takes control of the assets and manages the distribution of those assets. Living trusts are revocable or adjustable. Assets transferred through a living trust do not have to pass through probate, meaning that the assets are transferred to beneficiaries more quickly than assets transferred through a will. 

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 Posted on April 22, 2021 in Personal Injury

In March 2021, there were over 1600 instances of felony assault and 34 murders in New York City alone. The New York criminal justice system is responsible for holding perpetrators of violence accountable for their horrific actions. While a criminal conviction may result in punitive consequences including imprisonment, criminal penalties do not directly address the harm suffered by the victim or the victim’s surviving family members. A personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death lawsuit may allow for the recovery of damages as well as accountability through the civil legal system.

Filing a Claim Against the Perpetrator of Violence

Per New York law, a personal injury or wrongful death claim may be filed when:

• An injury or death is caused by negligence or wrongdoing and

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 Posted on April 08, 2021 in Estate Planning

It can be an uncomfortable subject to consider, but life is finite. Eventually, everyone passes away. Often, an individual’s death is preceded by an incapacitating illness or injury. If you ever become incapacitated and unable to speak for yourself, who would you want to speak on your behalf? A power of attorney is an important estate planning instrument that authorizes someone to speak on your behalf regarding medical or financial concerns. Establishing power of attorney is a crucial component of a comprehensive estate plan.  

Power of Attorney for Property and Healthcare

If you are disabled and unable to communicate, you need someone to manage medical and financial decisions for you. A power of attorney assigns decision-making authority to a person called an agent. The agent is someone that you trust to make the same types of decisions that you would make if you were able to do so. A financial power of attorney or general power of attorney assigns financial decision-making authority. The scope of the agent’s financial responsibilities may be broad or limited. The agent is required to make decisions that follow the parameters established by the power of attorney document.

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 Posted on March 24, 2021 in Personal Injury

You probably already know that personal injury cases are intended to help injured clients recover financial compensation for damages. Medical expenses, lost income from missed work, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life are all damages for which an injured person may receive compensation. You may be less sure of how the personal injury claim process actually works. What are the steps involved in an injury case? How long do personal injury cases take to resolve? Will I have to go to court? These are all questions that vary from case to case. However, most personal injury cases follow the same basic steps.

Initial Investigation and Sending a Demand Letter

Whether you are interested in filing a personal injury claim after a car accident, assault, construction site accident, or another injury-causing incident, typically, the first step is investigating the cause of the injury. Your personal injury lawyer will ask you questions about the accident or incident. Next, he or she will start to gather evidence like police reports and records of medical treatment that you have received for your injuries.

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 Posted on March 10, 2021 in Business Law

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are legally enforceable contracts that establish a confidential relationship between two parties. NDAs or confidentiality agreements are a valuable tool for employers in every industry. Business owners may use NDAs to protect important information from being misused by potential investors, employees, consultants, or other parties. If a party violates the terms of a confidentiality agreement, the non-breaching party may be able to take legal action and pursue restitution.

How Can a Non-Disclosure Agreement Protect My Business?

In the course of business, business owners often disclose sensitive information to others. Employees are often privy to confidential information about clients, products and services, trade secrets, business strategies, and more. Through a non-disclosure agreement, you can require employees to keep this information confidential. NDAs are often required as a condition of employment or they may be part of a severance package. A confidentiality agreement may also be part of a settlement agreement. NDAs are often subject to misunderstandings, but these contracts are important legal instruments that have a wide range of uses. However, NDAs must meet certain criteria to be enforceable, so it is important to work with a skilled attorney when drafting non-disclosure agreements.

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 Posted on February 24, 2021 in Truck Accidents

Large commercial trucks are responsible for hauling most of the freight that is transported across the United States. While any truck accident can lead to severe injuries and death, accidents involving trucks that are transporting hazardous or flammable material are often especially gruesome. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a hazardous materials truck accident, it is important to know your rights. You may be able to hold the at-fault party accountable and recover financial compensation for your damages through a personal injury lawsuit.

Trucks Carrying Hazardous Materials Must Comply With Strict Safety Standards

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) categorizes hazardous materials into several different groups. Trucks carrying hazardous material must be labeled with a placard identifying the type of hazardous material being hauled. Hazardous materials fall into the following nine categories:

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 Posted on February 10, 2021 in Car Accidents

A personal injury claim can enable an injured person to recover financial compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. However, in order to receive financial compensation through a personal injury claim, the plaintiff must establish the defendant’s negligence or wrongdoing. Whether an injury results from a vehicle collision, truck crash, construction accident, or another incident, there is usually a multitude of factors that contribute to an injurious accident. The injured person’s own actions may even contribute to his or her injury. In cases of shared liability for an injury-causing accident, is the injured person still entitled to compensation?

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 Posted on January 27, 2021 in Personal Injury

A personal injury claim is a civil legal action that an injured individual may take against the party that injured him or her. Many personal injury claims are based on the concept of “negligence” or carelessness. Most car accidents, premises liability, and product liability claims are negligence-based claims. However, a personal injury claim may also be founded upon an intentional tort such as an assault, battery, or homicide.

Civil Claims Based on Intentional Wrongdoing

Most personal injury claims are founded upon an accusation of negligence. In a negligence-based claim, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s careless or irresponsible actions caused him or her harm. A personal injury claim may also be founded upon an intentionally harmful act such as:

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 Posted on January 13, 2021 in Real Estate

There are few aspects of life that have not been affected by COVID-19. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs, had their work hours cut, or were forced to quit their jobs due to COVID-19 related lockdowns. This has led to widespread financial hardship. To mitigate some of the effects of this financial uncertainty, the federal government has released funds in the form of stimulus checks to individuals and businesses. New York state has also extended the moratorium on tenant evictions. Although recent measures have provided financial relief to renters, many landlords are concerned about the effect anti-eviction laws will have on their own finances.

New York Bans Evictions Amid Continued COVID-19 Concerns

Approximately 330,000 individuals have lost their lives due to the COVID-19 virus as of January 2021. Millions more have felt the effects of the virus financially. In order to avoid struggling Americans from ending up on the streets, many states have issued moratoriums on evictions. This has provided many families with valuable time to get back on their feet financially; however, it has also caused considerable financial difficulties for many property owners and landlords.

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 Posted on December 28, 2020 in Car Accidents

Distracted driving continues to be a huge contributor to serious automobile accidents in Connecticut and throughout the United States. We often associate distracted driving with texting while driving. However, distracted driving occurs when any type of distraction takes a motorist’s attention off of driving or his or her hands off of the wheel. If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim.

What Is Distracted Driving?

For seasoned drivers, driving a motor vehicle becomes second nature. Most drivers instinctively know how to move their hands and feet to operate a car safely. However, when a driver is distracted, he or she may make crucial mistakes behind the wheel. Distracted driving can involve any of the following activities or behaviors:

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