A Final Retirement Account Distribution Must Still Be Made After Death

By Susan P. Bakalar, Esq. and Raymond A. Piccin, Esq. Federal law requires that beginning on April 1 of the year after you reach age 70 1/2, you must begin withdrawing a minimum amount from your non-Roth individual retirement account (IRA) …

If You Haven’t Been Regularly Reviewing Your Estate Plan, Start When You Hit 60

By Susan P. Bakalar, Esq. and Raymond A. Piccin, Esq. It is a very good idea to create advance directives in order to plan for the possibility that you may one day be unable to make your own medical decisions. …

Drafting a Power of Attorney that Lessens the Chances of Abuse

By Susan P. Bakalar, Esq. and Raymond A. Piccin, Esq. A power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents you can create, but it is also one that can be misused.  While it isn’t possible to …

Discovery of Aretha Franklin’s Handwritten Wills Throws Her Estate Into Turmoil

By Susan P. Bakalar, Esq. and Raymond A. Piccin, Esq. Legendary singer Aretha Franklin was thought to have died without a will, but the recent discovery of handwritten documents in her home are calling that into question. A representative of …

So, You’ve Been Appointed Trustee of a Trust? Here Are 9 Do’s and 1 Don’t

By Susan P. Bakalar, Esq. and Raymond A. Piccin, Esq. Whether it’s an honor or a burden (or both), you have been appointed trustee of a trust. What responsibilities have been thrust upon you? How can you successfully carry them …