As winter blankets New York in its icy embrace, a new challenge emerges - navigating the state's roads under frosty conditions. The cost of road accidents in winter is always higher than at any other time. Fortunately, the following tips can help ensure your safety and that of others on the road. Prepare your vehicle Before hitting the road, it's important to ensure your vehicle is ready for winter conditions. Start by checking your tires - are they properly inflated and have enough tread...
Binghamton Law Blog: Covering Topics from Personal Injury to Estate Planning Law
Effective ways to give out to charity in New York
Helping others is the most noble and satisfying thing one can do. It not only brings happiness to those in need but also gives the helper a sense of purpose and fulfillment. If you feel philanthropic in New York, it's only right to ensure you know the best ways to contribute and help make a difference. You can consider the following strategies. Trusts You can contribute to people's well-being by creating a Trust. A trust is a financial arrangement where you transfer assets (money, property or...
What to consider when creating an estate plan
If you are a legal adult, you're strongly encouraged to have an estate plan. Doing so may help to ensure that your kids can stay in your New York home if you become incapacitated or ensure that your wishes are respected after you pass away. There are a number of steps that you can take to manage your affairs. Create a will or trust Perhaps the best way to protect your assets is by creating a will or trust. These documents allow you to determine who your beneficiaries are so that assets don't...
Could a potentially proposed change lower auto-pedestrian fatalities?
Most New York residents are familiar with NYC prohibiting right turns at red lights. Unfortunately, many other states don't follow this rule. However, it appears that could soon be changing with rumors of a proposed ban on turning right while a stoplight is red. Large cities proposing right on red bans Recently, the City Council of Washington D.C. approved banning allowing drivers to turn right at red lights. This ban will officially go into effect in 2025. In Chicago, Illinois, another one of...
Serving as the executor of your parent’s will
New York law allows any adult who is of sound mind to serve as the executor of an estate. Therefore, your parents are perfectly within their rights to appoint you in their wills as their estate representative. When one of them dies, you will be responsible for ensuring that the probate process is completed in a proper and timely manner. What an executor does There are a number of tasks that you must complete such as inventorying assets, opening a bank account for the estate and filing a final...
The different types of motor vehicle accidents
Motor vehicle accidents kill tens of thousands of people each year. When police officers are dispatched to New York traffic accident scenes, they often start their investigations by determining how many vehicles were involved and what happened in the moments before they crashed. Single-vehicle accidents rarely cause serious injuries unless drivers lose control of their vehicles while traveling at high speeds, but multi-car accidents often cause catastrophic injury or death. This is especially...
What to look for in an attorney-in-fact in New York
You may not always be available to deal with some of the important transactions or decisions in your life. If you don't want your plans or businesses in New York to stop in those times, you'll need someone to act for you. That's where an attorney-in-fact comes in. This person is authorized to act on behalf of another in legal or financial matters under the power of attorney. Given the substantial nature of the authority granted to an attorney-in-fact, it is crucial to consider who you choose...
IIHS studies ways to identify distracted drivers
Drivers in New York are not permitted to use mobile electronic devices while behind the wheel, but cellphone bans are often flouted. When motorists are ticketed for violating these laws, it is usually because a police officer observed them making phone calls or sending text messages. Two studies conducted by researchers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggest that technology could help law enforcement to identify drivers who violate cellphone bans or cause accidents while using...
The potential downsides to a trust
While a last will and testament might be the most common way people transfer assets to family members and other beneficiaries after their death, another option exists. Estate planning in New York may involve setting up a trust, which can allow certain assets to transfer outside of probate. While there are benefits to creating a trust, certain drawbacks may arise. Concerns about a trust With a trust, a trustee manages the assets inside the trust on behalf of the beneficiaries. The estate...
How an estate’s executor takes care of resolving its debts
The estate planning process in New York involves completing many steps. One of an executor's most important duties is resolving the debts of an estate. While this sounds simple enough, executors must know the order in which to pay creditors, the IRS and beneficiaries. Priority entitlements It's imperative to know if the estate you manage has priority distributions before paying creditors. Priority distributions can mean the decedent's surviving spouse and children receive money or other assets...