News & Insights

  • Payment

    What Can You Learn from an Accidental $1 Billion Payment?

    You are probably not going to receive a nine-figure payment, whether by accident or on purpose. However, you can still learn some valuable lessons from a group of finance firms that did get $1 billion mistakenly. In a recent case in the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the Court addressed whether the … Read more

  • Incapacitated Person

    What Powers Does a Guardian Have to Act After the Death of the Incapacitated Person?

    If a loved one no longer has the capacity to take care of themselves or their finances, it may be time to seek guardianship. Under New York law, an interested person can file a petition to have a guardian appointed over either the ‘person’ or property of the incapacitated person. Once appointed, the guardian is … Read more

  • STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

    STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BARS CLAIM FOR REPAYMENT OF MONEY ‘HAD AND RECEIVED’

    Most legal claims have a statute of limitations that requires a party to file a lawsuit within a certain time period. The deadline for suing varies depending on the type of claim. However, these rules can be confusing as seen in a recent decision of the New York Appellate Division, Fourth Department. The Court addressed … Read more

  • Elective Share

    The Ins and Outs of a Spouse’s Elective Share

    Generally, people have broad discretion in deciding how to distribute their assets when they die. However, one limitation in New York is that you cannot disinherit your spouse unless your spouse waived the right to inherit in a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement. If you improperly exclude your spouse from your will, he or she can … Read more

  • Real Estate Deed

    WHEN IS A DEED NOT A DEED?

    In New York, real property is transferred by the execution and recording of a deed with the County Clerk’s Office in the county where the real property is located. There are different types of deeds and property can be conveyed either in whole or in part. While a deed generally evidences the sale or other … Read more

  • HANDWRITTEN WILL

    CAN YOU PROBATE A HANDWRITTEN WILL IN NEW YORK?

    A handwritten (or holographic) will is not enforceable in all states. However, in certain circumstances, the will may still be probated in a state which does not recognize handwritten wills provided certain requirements are met. A recent New York appellate court decision addressed this issue in the Matter of Noichl.   In states that recognize holographic … Read more

  • LEASE

    IS A LEASE ENFORCEABLE IF BOTH SIDES DID NOT SIGN IT?

    It seems fairly obvious that a party cannot claim to have a valid lease if the other side did not agree to it. However, in a recent New York case, a landlord tried to argue that a prospective tenant should not get back money it paid in advance for a lease that the prospective tenant … Read more

  • Tax Deductions

    What Happens to Your Tax Deductions When You Die?

    When preparing and filing personal income tax returns, it’s common to have deductions that exceed the amount you are allowed to take on the current year’s tax return. In those cases, you may be able to carry over those losses to apply against income earned in future years. But what happens if you die without … Read more

  • ARBITRATION CLAUSE

    Is Your Arbitration Clause Binding?

    In certain business arrangements, it is common for a party to insist on including an arbitration clause in the agreement. The purpose of such a clause is to avoid the time and expense involved in litigation if a dispute occurs since arbitration is often faster and less costly than going to court. While such provisions … Read more

  • Negligent Hiring

    When Can You Sue for Negligent Hiring?

    If someone is injured by an employee, there may be grounds for suing the employer for negligent hiring and retention of that employee. However, there are strict requirements for bringing a claim which can be difficult to establish, as we discussed in a prior blog post involving a lawsuit against a church. In that case, … Read more

WHEN IS A DEED NOT A DEED?

Real Estate Deed

In New York, real property is transferred by the execution and recording of a deed with the County Clerk’s Office in the county where the real property is located. There are different types of deeds and property can be conveyed either in whole or in part. While a deed generally evidences the sale or other … Read more

CAN YOU PROBATE A HANDWRITTEN WILL IN NEW YORK?

HANDWRITTEN WILL

A handwritten (or holographic) will is not enforceable in all states. However, in certain circumstances, the will may still be probated in a state which does not recognize handwritten wills provided certain requirements are met. A recent New York appellate court decision addressed this issue in the Matter of Noichl.   In states that recognize holographic … Read more

Is Your Arbitration Clause Binding?

ARBITRATION CLAUSE

In certain business arrangements, it is common for a party to insist on including an arbitration clause in the agreement. The purpose of such a clause is to avoid the time and expense involved in litigation if a dispute occurs since arbitration is often faster and less costly than going to court. While such provisions … Read more

When Can You Sue for Negligent Hiring?

Negligent Hiring

If someone is injured by an employee, there may be grounds for suing the employer for negligent hiring and retention of that employee. However, there are strict requirements for bringing a claim which can be difficult to establish, as we discussed in a prior blog post involving a lawsuit against a church. In that case, … Read more