Blog - Page 8 of 25 - Sverdlov Law PLLC

Social Security changes coming in 2020

Posted on November 5, 2019

Stay informed about the Social Security changes. Monthly benefits increase: Social Security recipients will get a 1.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in their monthly benefits starting in January. The average individual retired Social Security beneficiary is expected to see a monthly benefit jump from $1,479 to $1,503, an increase of roughly $24 per month...

What is a healthcare proxy?

Posted on October 30, 2019

Multiple problems frequently arise when an adult loses capacity. Do you remember Terri Schiavo and the 7-year court battle that her family had to endure to determine the proper course of her medical treatment? Much to the surprise of close relatives, unless certain documents are signed ahead of time, the relatives are not entitled...

What happens if there are not enough assets in the Estate to pay all claims

Posted on October 23, 2019

Purpose of probate: Probate of the estate serves several purposes. It starts with identifying the heirs of the estate, continues with identifying the assets owned by the decedent, continues with paying the claims of the estate, and is finalized by distributing the remaining assets to the required beneficiaries. Every single step of this process...

Disinheriting a Child

Posted on October 16, 2019

Under the laws of New York, if you die intestate (without a Will) some or all of your property would go to your children who survive you, in equal shares. However, you can choose to disinherit – leave nothing – to a child. The disinherited child, of course, may have very hurt feelings, both against...

Account Closures and Cancellations

Posted on October 9, 2019

One of the hardest parts of losing a loved one is dealing with the financial aftermath. While your family and friends are aware of the passing, the rest of the financial institutions are not and they will keep sending the bills. Gym memberships, subscription wine club memberships, student loans, credit cards, Netflix subscription, utility...

Basics of Planning a Funeral

Posted on October 2, 2019

Pre-Planning is best because it eases the burden on your loved ones. If you have specific wishes (i.e. – scattering your ashes over Yukon, Canada or getting buried under a specific tree) you should at least write these wishes down and ideally arrange for their execution. However, that is not always possible and millions...

Planning for Step-Children

Posted on September 25, 2019

If you have married someone who had children from a previous relationship, these are your step-children. Even if you have helped raised the child from a very young age, unless you have legally adopted the child, he will not be considered your child for inheritance purposes. This can have significant implications for your family....

A Good Plan Avoids Big Problems

Posted on September 18, 2019

Not having a plan in place may create unforeseen problems for your family. Please read my recent article in Epoch Times about the importance of having proper documents.https://www.theepochtimes.com/a-good-plan-avoids-big-problems_3066028.html

My recent interview on Serene Home: mistakes, challenges and costs of estate planning.

Posted on September 5, 2019

I was recently interviewed on Serene Home about how to put your estate planning affairs in order. Please read the article below.https://theserenehome.com/estate-planning-katya-sverdlov-esq-talks-to-the-serene-home/

KonMari consultant explains the organizing / cleaning method that took the world by storm!

Posted on August 13, 2019

1. How did you become a KonMari consultant? Following a long career as a psychotherapist, I discovered my passion for organizing after organizing my own home using the KonMari Method. KonMari worked so well for me in my own home, I decided I wanted to help others achieve the same result.After completing the KonMari...