Susan G. Parker Esq.

28/04/2026

Today's reminder - Thank you Justice Roberts

28/04/2026

in case people needed more reason to dislike lawyers.... I am ashamed of "my people." More importantly, please know that we are not all cut from this corrupt soulless cloth. Many of us are compassionate, caring people who want to serve our clients (and society) with integrity. Disbarment is not enough of a punshment for these criminals. FYI, during the confirmation hearings for Kavanagh I wrote the American Bar Association - who did not respond and rubber stamped the appointment. Surprise Surprise. That's when I resigned from that. I hope the whole system topples.

28/04/2024

The Queen of Soul had a handwritten Will found tucked in her sofa that changed "who got what" - from a prior more "officially" executed one. This would be a very tough case to prove and win in NY. A six year will contest could've been avoided if plans were properly updated and in place! We can learn from the mistakes of others - without having to make them ourselves.

Aretha Franklins handwritten will was deemed valid by a Michigan jury on Tuesday, nearly five years after it was discovered tucked away in a sofa. The document from 2014, which was found in the Queen of Souls Detroit home after her 2018 death, settled the debate over how the legendary singers estate...

12/11/2023

The amount of gift tax free gifts you can make (per person to any number of people!) is $18,000 for gifts made in 2024 - up from $17,000 in 2023. If you combine year-end holiday giving and January new year giving - that's $35,000 per person gift tax free. For those who like to give with a warm hand, this is a popular estate tax savings tool.

IR-2023-208, Nov. 9, 2023 — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions for tax year 2024, including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes.

27/10/2023

Lots of people do move to save taxes! CA and NY are the big losers and FL is the big winner…..good read!

What do The Rolling Stones, NFL star Tyreek Hill, and Maryland millionaires have in common? They all moved because of taxes.

05/06/2023

Terrific article on legalese- often used to obfuscate and generate legal fees to decipher- never been part of my practice!

Never attribute to malice what can be explained by mere convenience

31/05/2023

TrustCo Bank is hosting a Financial Review Day at their Peekskill office on Thursday, June 8th. I'll be giving a talk on asset protection as part of the program. Look forward to seeing you there.

27/10/2022

No matter what stage your business is in, having a strong plan in place is crucial for future growth and success.

Why? Because your business plan is a roadmap for how to establish, structure, manage, and grow your business! Your plan is your foundation!

When it comes to business start-ups, planning often starts with choosing the right entity for your needs. Business planning is an important opportunity to bring in outside counsel to advise and recommend the best approach, especially when it comes to employment law and other compliance matters.

If you're forming a new business or need assistance with your current business operations, we can help by assisting you with agreements, legal documents, equipment leasing, corporate documents, equity documents, and more! Visit our website or contact our offices at 914-923-1600 to get started!

https://susanparkerlaw.com

25/10/2022

The estate planning process can be a very overwhelming time for everyone involved, and a lot of that stress can be attributed to being unfamiliar with all the terms and legal jargon being thrown around, so let's break down one of those terms today: non-probate property. 💡

Simply put, "non-probate" property refers to property that does not pass to beneficiaries via your Will. Only property in your name alone, when you die, passes under your Will. For example, if you own property with your spouse with a right of survivorship, it passes to your spouse by operation of law. It does not pass under your Will.

It's also important to note that certain property passes per other legal documents or contracts. For example, the following assets only pass under your Will if you fail to name a beneficiary, your beneficiary predeceases you or you name your estate as the beneficiary:
🔹 Life insurance
🔹 Retirement benefits from a company plan
🔹 IRA accounts
🔹 Joint and survivor annuities

Similarly, if property is left to beneficiaries per a form with your bank or life insurance company, that too is non-probate property. When property has no designation for a successor owner or no beneficiary is named, it passes under your Will and is called “probate” property.

Feel free to drop any questions you may have in the comments, and be sure to visit our website to schedule a consultation!

https://susanparkerlaw.com

20/10/2022

Did you know? 👀

In some states, it is legally binding to leave a “list” of personal property and the beneficiaries to receive it. This avoids the need to change your Will each time you want to leave that favorite ring to one niece or another. When it comes to jewelry and antiques or other special personal property, it is a good idea to take photographs so who gets what is clear.

But these separate signed lists are not legally binding in all states. If you plan to go this route, make sure you check the laws in your state. Even in states where a list is not legally binding, a Will may provide instructions for an executor to honor the instructions in a list left with the Will.

Are you unsure about the estate laws or processes in your state? Let us help you navigate the planning process so you can be sure that all your wishes are carried out! Contact us at 914-923-1600 or visit our website to schedule a consultation!

https://susanparkerlaw.com/