The summer of 2010 may be remembered as the “Historic Summer of Legislation” that will forever change how family law is practiced in New York State. New laws became effective October 1, 2010 which represented the most major change to family law since the law of “Equitable Distribution” took effect in 1980.

Caring for a loved one with a disability can be overwhelming at times. Care givers spend much of their time dealing with the immediate. To truly provide for a loved one with a disability, the care giver must deal with the future: they must develop a “Vision for the Future.” The vision need not be precise; indeed, in the early years in the life of a loved one it is impossible to see his or her future with great precision. Nevertheless, a care giver must envision what a loved one’s life will be like as he/she transitions from early childhood to teen years; from teen years to college or job; from living at home to living in a group home or in the community; from relying upon the primary care giver to securing outside supports.

In a divorce or separation, collaborative law can be used to resolve all issues including financial and parenting. The essence of collaborative law is for the parties and their attorneys to sit down together at a table to reach a reaosnable resolution of their issues. Both parties and their attorneys sign what is called a “Participation Agreement” which, among other things, states that the lawyers must disqualify themselves from representing their clients in any litigation. The parties also agree to provide early voluntary disoclosure of all information that a reasonable decision maker would need to make an informed decision about each issue in dispute.

On January 01, 2013 Congress passed and on January 02, 2013 the President signed into law the “American Taxpayer Relief Act” which for the first time in over a decade provides planners a permanent set of Estate and Gift Tax rules

At one time or another we have all heard an anecdote concerning a person who has – sometimes successful/sometimes not – attempted to change his or her “tax home” from New York to another state. One’s “tax home” is where he or she is “domiciled” and it is different than where one “resides.”