Tax professionals regularly refer their clients to me to determine if any tax liabilities can be discharged in Bankruptcy. Here are the general rules Sales tax and Payroll taxes that a business withholds are non dischargeable. Income taxes that are not filed are not...
Should you file for bankruptcy if your spouse is terminally ill?
This is a hard question, and the answer is "it depends". Home Equity: Each owner on a deed is entitled to a "homestead exemption" which is currently $165,500 in NYC. If one joint owner dies, then the survivor will only have one exemption. Thus, if the house has...
Retired and Just Getting By
Divorced at a young age, she raised her daughter on her own. Now retired and living in her daughter's home, she has accumulated $16,000 in credit card debt. Try as she may, she has been unable to pay off this debt with her pension and social security. I determnined...
Understanding the difference between Chapter 7, 11 and 13
No two people have the same financial situations, which also means no two people handle their debts the same way either. It's a fact not lost on people in New York where the sudden loss of a job or serious illness or injury could just as easily create a challenging...
Worried about Medical Bills
An elderly couple worried that they would lose their home because the could not affort the co-pays and co-insurance not covered by Medicare. They lived a comfortable life for many years after retirement by getting a reverse mortgage. But now in their 80's, they...
Before filing for bankruptcy, be sure your home is protected
To care for her elderly mother, she left her city job. Afer her mother died, she was unable to get her job back. She lived off her credit cards, while trying to get work, and made her minimum payments with the little work she did get. When the minimum payments became...
4 potential benefits of a revocable trust
A revocable trust is a legal instrument that can dictate how a person’s property is managed and distributed during their lifetime or after they have passed away. As with the majority of legal tools, there are both positive and negative aspects to a revocable living...
What do you know about discussing your end-of-life desires?
While you understand the importance of planning your estate and drafting all the documents, you may struggle to discuss your end-of-life desires openly. How do you bring up the matter with your family and friends? AARP offers tips for sharing your estate plans with...
Don’t overdo the “dead-hand controls” on your trust
Trusts have become an increasingly useful financial tool for people who want to safely pass their wealth onto the next generation. So-called “conditional” trusts, which impose certain obligations on would-be beneficiaries to receive their funds, are particularly...
A spendthrift trust may provide needed asset protection
A spendthrift trust includes specific provisions regarding how a trustee may use its funds on behalf of the named beneficiaries. As noted by SmartAsset, the trustee may exercise broad discretion to spend money on an heir's expenses so that he or she can maintain a...
Here’s why a DIY-estate plan is a bad idea
Creating an estate plan is one of the most important things you can do to safeguard your future, your assets and your loved ones. A well-written estate plan gives you peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be honored when you pass on, or if you become...
Is this a sign of nursing home neglect?
Hearing the many news stories focused on abuse or neglect at nursing facilities likely leaves you feeling concerned for your own loved one. Unfortunately, it is impossible to determine where or when neglect may occur. Noticing red flags can help you react quickly if...
What’s the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
The “Baby Boomer” generation is getting older and starting to investigate their healthcare options. If you're among that group, you may be wondering exactly how Medicaid plays into your future plans -- and how its relationship with Medicare works. Since 1964, the...
Think of succession planning when starting your business
In the excitement of getting your new business up and running, it is difficult to think of everything you need to do. Succession planning may not be part of your checklist at this point. However, if you have partners, shareholders and employees, there is no time like...
Involve a professional during Medicaid planning
Most people overlook the need for planning for long-term care. Unfortunately, the problem with this kind of thinking is your health can change, especially as you advance in age. No one can project how their health will be in the future. That said, nearly two-thirds of...
Why do inheritance disputes happen?
Knowing that you have planned your end-of-life affairs can remove some of the angst of growing older. Naming beneficiaries and having the peace of mind that those you care about will receive your assets can provide satisfaction and comfort. Despite your best efforts,...
