Estate Planning — New York State

What Is the New York Estate Tax Cliff (and How to Avoid It)?

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:32:52 +0000

The New York estate tax cliff is a feature of state law that causes an estate slightly over the exemption threshold to lose its entire exemption — meaning the estate is taxed from the very first dollar rather than only on the amount above the exclusion. For deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026, […]

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Medicaid Planning and Your New York Estate (5-Year Look-Back)

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:32:52 +0000

Medicaid planning protects your New York estate by legally repositioning assets — most often into an irrevocable trust — far enough in advance that they no longer count against you when you apply for long-term-care Medicaid. The catch is the 5-year look-back: New York reviews the 60 months of financial transactions before your application, and […]

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Including Digital Assets in Your New York Estate Plan

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:32:52 +0000

To include digital assets in your New York estate plan, you must coordinate four core documents — a will, a revocable or irrevocable trust, a durable power of attorney, and a health care proxy — and grant each fiduciary explicit authority over your online accounts, cryptocurrency, domain names, and other digital property. New York law […]

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How Often Should You Update Your Estate Plan in New York?

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:32:52 +0000

The smart answer: review your New York estate plan at least every three to five years, and immediately after any major life or financial change. An estate plan is not a “set it and forget it” document — it is a living strategy that must keep pace with your family, your assets, and New York’s […]

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Health Care Proxy vs. Power of Attorney in New York

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:32:52 +0000

A Health Care Proxy and a Power of Attorney are two different documents that answer two different questions. In New York, a Health Care Proxy (governed by Public Health Law Article 29-C) appoints an agent to make your medical decisions if you cannot speak for yourself. A durable Power of Attorney (governed by General Obligations […]

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A New York Estate Planning Checklist for 2026

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:32:52 +0000

A complete New York estate planning checklist for 2026 comes down to four coordinated documents — a will, one or more trusts, a durable power of attorney, and a health care proxy — assembled with an eye toward New York’s estate tax so your family inherits assets, not problems. The “smart” part is not simply […]

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Estate Planning for Non-Citizens in New York

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:10:00 +0000

A plain-English guide to estate planning for green card holders and non-citizens in New York, including wills, trusts, the QDOT, and immigration help.

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