Authored by: Dorothy J. Santos One major responsibility of an estate fiduciary is to collect the assets of the estate.  Normally, this process is relatively straightforward, especially if the fiduciary is knowledgeable about different types of assets and comfortable dealing with various types of financial institutions.  However, there are undoubtedly times when the fiduciary has to fight to collect an asset or assets belonging to the estate.  This can occur when there are merely different beliefs as to the technical ownership of property or when property was somehow diverted from the decedent or estate by a third party. In New… Read more

Authored by: Dorothy J. Santos Here’s a case for making sure you choose the right spouse and friends in life. A New York State court recently held a widow and her two friends liable in connection with the production of a “sham” Will for the widow’s deceased husband and its admission to probate.  The court’s decision illustrates a terrible family tragedy and the grave consequences of failing to follow the law in this area and doing “favors” for friends or family. After the death of the widow’s husband in 2005, the widow convinced her two friends to witness a fake… Read more