New York Estate Planning, Probate, and Real Estate Lawyer

Famed consumer advocate, Ralph Nader has opened a very odd museum in Winstead, Connecticut called the American Museum of Tort Law The centerpiece of the museum is the Corvair, the car that brought Nader to national Attention due to his book Unsafe at Any Speed. Nader says it’s the only museum of its in the…

The Connecticut State Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that children have the right to sue for the loss of parental consortium when a parent is killed. The decision broke with precedent over limits as to how much minor children can receive as a result of a lawsuit The ruling is the result of a wrongful…

3D printers have finally become affordable to many consumers. With 3D printiing a user can print out actual products like clothing and guitars. But if there is some defect in the product you just printed and you get injured, who do you sue? Nora Freeman Engstrom, associate professor at Stanford University.tackled this question in an…

All those who own cars must have insurance. 90 percent of car accidents are due to driver error. What if there is no driver? That scenario, as futuristic as it might sound is on the Horizon. Google, for one is experimenting with driverless cars. Will you still need insurance if you’re not the driver? A…

In weird legal news, the parents of an unarmed man shot dead by police in Bakersfield, California have filed wrongful death suit against a police officer who they claim likes “playing with dead bodies.”According to the lawsuit After James’ violent and unwarranted death, his body was transported to Kern Medical Center for an autopsy. While…

A law enacted in 2015 by the New York State Legislature overturns an Appeals Court decision upholding the denial of benefits to the widow of a State Police Officer. The law was signed by Governor Cuomo. It was specifically designed for one specific case. On December 7, 2009, seven minutes after State Trooper investigator Richard…

An article over at marketwatch.com reports says-sex couples are less likely to save for retirement than the rest of the population. They cite a recent Prudential LGBT Financial Experience report which found most LGBT couples are more likely to call themselves spenders than savers. The report found, that compared to the population at large, fewer…

Summer is here and almost 60,000 bicyclists will take to the streets, bike paths and parks of New York City. Maybe you are one of those throngs of two-wheeled enthusiasts. But as fun as cycling might be, you need to be aware at all times. Accidents do happen. Although accidents have been declining the last…

After many years as a probate lawyer, here are some of the most frequently asked questions: 1. Can a copy of a WILL be probated? Generally, only the original WILL may be probated. However, if it can be proven that the original WILL was never revoked and was destroyed AFTER the death of the decedent,…

Not all family members may become an administrator of a decedent’s estate. The general rule is that a surviving spouse has first priority, followed by surviving adult children. A common law spouse does not have an automatic right to become an administrator. However, he/she can be appointed as the administrator after the consent of the…