Law Office of Inna Fershteyn and Associates, P.C.
Estate Planning & Elder Law Attorney
In both New York and New Jersey, the federal gift tax rules allow the donor to follow the federal gift tax rules and exemptions. In 2026, the federal annual gift tax exclusion allows individuals to give up to $19,000 per recipient, per year without incurring
Last updated: May 29, 2026 | By Inna Fershteyn, Esq. | Reading time: ~9 minutes The New York estate tax exemption for 2026 is $7,350,000 per individual — the amount a person can pass to his beneficiaries before any New York State estate tax is
Last updated: May 22, 2026 | By Inna Fershteyn, Esq. | Reading time: ~9 minutes Several federal and New York changes are reshaping Medicaid and Essential Plan eligibility through 2026 and into 2027, following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1). The
Last updated: May 22, 2026 | By Inna Fershteyn, Esq. | Reading time: ~10 minutes A revocable trust can be changed or undone by the grantor at any time during his lifetime; an irrevocable trust generally cannot. That single distinction drives every other difference: a
Last updated: May 20, 2026 | By Inna Fershteyn, Esq. | Reading time: ~9 minutes The Medicaid 5-year lookback in New York reviews every asset transfer you made in the 60 months before applying for nursing home Medicaid. The state calculates a penalty period by
Even with the most thought-out, thorough, detailed estate plan, failure to anticipate surprise heirs and challenges can completely throw your plans into disarray. Not considering the possibility of having a distant relative or an estranged child who can make a claim that challenges your decisions
How to Protect Your Digital Assets As technology advances rapidly, every sector of society is evolving—especially when it comes to wealth management. Cryptocurrencies and digital assets are growing in popularity, introducing new complexities and challenges to estate planning. Unlike traditional assets, crypto holdings are password-protected
It’s very common for aging parents to name their children as health care proxies or agents under a Power of Attorney (POA). Children know their parents well, care deeply about their well-being, and are committed to honoring their wishes, which makes them a natural and
Leaving Your Family with Clarity: Estate Planning for Estranged Children Familial relationships can be complicated, and sometimes they don’t work out, such as in the case of estrangement from a child. This can raise difficult questions when it comes to estate planning. It’s important to
It is common to want to help your grandchildren or children by helping with a down payment, covering part of a wedding, or simply giving a check as a birthday gift; however, under Medicaid rules, these gifts can have unintended consequences. Although these gifts are