Protection of beneficiaries rights
Attorneys that protect the rights of beneficiaries in Suffolk, Nassau, Brooklyn, Queens County New York
Beneficiaries under a will have certain rights and protections under the law. The grant of probate or administration provides some protection to beneficiaries or next of kin. Subject to the family provision sections of the Succession Act 2006 (see Family Provision Orders), they can be sure that they are the only people who will receive the property of the deceased person. If someone disputes the claim by producing another will, for example, the only way that person can receive any of the estate is to apply to the court to revoke the grant of probate (or letters of administration). If the deceased left gifts of money, assets may have to be sold to obtain the money. If the executor does not act diligently, the beneficiaries may complain to the Supreme Court. This is the only right a beneficiary has before distribution. A beneficiary does not own the property until the executor distributes the estate. Before distribution, the executor is regarded as the ‘owner’ of the assets in so far as the executor holds the estate in trust for the beneficiaries. Our attorneys are not only trained in handling simple estate beneficiary matters, we take care of complex estate litigation in the event of a contest or fraud in Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens County, Bronx, Westchester, Richmond County, Manhattan and Brooklyn Kings County New York.
If surviving family have no income
Until the estate is distributed, surviving members of the family can sometimes be left without any access to family funds. This could happen where all the family assets have been in the deceased’s name. This causes a particular difficulty if the major beneficiary is a spouse who has no other source of income. (The same difficulty will arise if the deceased did not leave a will.) In such cases, the spouse should immediately contact their spouses job to check their eligibility for a pension or allowance. Another option may be to seek a loan, using the estate as security.
Spouses can avoid this situation by maintaining a joint bank account. On the death of either of the joint account holders, the right to the whole of the account passes to the survivor. For some people, joint accounts may create problems so another option is for spouses to have their own accounts to cover this situation.
Trust vs Wills * Removal of a Trustee * Guardianship * Probate * Beneficiary Rights
Medicaid Asset Protection * Probate Litigation * Estate Litigation * Living Trusts
In Home Care * Supplemental Needs Trusts * Fraudulent Transfers
Under the Probate & Administration Act 1898, section 92A, the executor or administrator can make urgent payments from the deceased person’s estate for the maintenance and support of any person who was substantially dependent on the deceased person at the time of his or her death.
Interest on legacies
If a gift of money (a legacy) is not paid within 12 months, the person to receive the money (the legatee) is entitled to interest on the money, unless the will provides otherwise. The current rate can be found in section 84A of the Probate & Administration Act 1898).
Rights of creditors
People who are owed money by someone who has died have to wait until the assets of the estate are available to the executor or administrator (after the grant of probate or letters of administration) before they receive payment. Secured creditors have special rights over goods or land belonging to the debtor and are paid before unsecured creditors – for example, a bank with a mortgage over a property will be paid out before unsecured creditors.
Life insurance and superannuation
Some assets are preserved from the payment of outstanding debts. Unless a contrary intention is expressed in the will, the proceeds of any life insurance policy of the deceased are protected from payment of estate debts except for funeral and testamentary expenses (the costs of administering a will). Proceeds from a life insurance policy may be distributed by the executor in accordance with a will or the intestacy rules (Life Insurance Act 1995 (Cth) section 205).
Superannuation benefits under some government funds are protected by legislation and the protection cannot be revoked by a will.
Legal actions and the deceased
Legal actions taken by or against a person may (with some exceptions) continue after their death (Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1944 section 2). Unresolved legal actions will pass to the estate. If the estate is sued and loses the case, the beneficiaries could be left with nothing. If the value of the estate is not sufficient to pay off debts, the debts will die with the person, unless they were held jointly with someone (for example a mortgage on a property), or guaranteed by someone else. In these situations, the debts will automatically pass to the surviving co-owner or guarantor.
Funeral expenses
Funeral expenses must be paid before any assets of the deceased’s estate can be distributed to beneficiaries. The person who orders the funeral is responsible for paying the account but is entitled to reimbursement from the estate ahead of other creditors.
For many people, asset protection is a critical component of the estate planning process. An estate planning attorney can help you shield your assets from potential lawsuits, judgments, garnishments or other hazards. Moreover, asset protection strategies can be valuable for blended families, protecting the rights of children from a previous marriage and clarifying each potential beneficiary’s rights. At The Law Office of CHRISTINE THEA RUBINSTEIN and Associates, our lawyer implements asset protection strategies for a diverse clientele. Based in Hauppauge, NY, we serve clients across Long Island, Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Brooklyn Kings County, Bronx, Westchester, Richmond County, Manhattan and beyond.
Using Irrevocable Trusts And Other Estate Planning Tools To Further Our Clients’ Goals
An irrevocable trust can be a key asset protection device. An irrevocable trust, as its name implies, cannot be revoked or modified absent significant measures being taken, such as obtaining unanimous beneficiary consent or court approval. Because the grantor of the trust no longer owns any of the assets contained in the trust, the irrevocable trust will serve as a protective vehicle for assets and may secure them against creditor issues. Moreover, an irrevocable trust may preserve a beneficiary’s ability to qualify for various governmental benefits, such as Medicaid. We will discuss the nature of your assets and help you determine whether an irrevocable trust suits your needs.
1-800-488-6734 Call today.
Get Help With Your Estate Plan Now
You should be prepared if a loved is going into a nursing home or already resides in a nursing home
You should know you have certain legal rights and must be very selective of the Lawyer or Law Firm that you chose to represent you.
Have an Attorney council you on the Right Decision for You.