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IS YOUR ONLINE WILL VALID? With promises of producing the exact forms that you need, for an unbelievable price, and in a matter of minutes, it’s no wonder that many people are opting for online services for their estate planning needs instead of seeking advice from a qualified attorney. A Last Will and Testament can…












OPEN MEETINGS LAW AMENDED TO PERMIT SOME REMOTE ATTENDANCE The Open Meetings Law was recently amended to permit public bodies to use videoconferencing to conduct open meetings under “extraordinary circumstances” without there being a declared state disaster emergency in effect. Public bodies seeking to use remote attendance must adopt a local law or ordinance to…












RUSSIA, UKRAINE, AND CONVERGING FORCES – A GUIDE TO THE INCREASED PRICE OF FUEL AND OTHER GOODS Ever since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, ordinary citizens in Ukraine and abroad have felt the effects of this crisis. The United States’ economy was already in an inflationary state due to COVID…












HOUSING – THE OVERLOOKED INFRASTRUCTURE The United States is experiencing a critical shortage of affordable housing opportunities. According to a recent publication of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) titled “The Doubled Trouble of the Housing Market,” we are experiencing the double whammy of record high home prices and record low inventory of available homes….












BALANCING THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS MARKET IN THE HUDSON VALLEY Over the last few years, the Hudson Valley and Catskills has become a very popular short-term rental (STR) market and part of the national debate about their merits and shortcomings. While many residents that operate STRs experience financial success and help bring visitors to their area,…












Estate Plan Exclusions The majority of estate plans that we prepare at our law firm leave assets to clients’ children in equal shares. Some clients make wills, and others create trusts. Some seek to keep assets protected from long-term care and nursing home costs or to minimize estate taxes. But generally the objective is to…












AVOID COMMON PERSONAL INJURY T.R.A.P.S If you have suffered a serious personal injury, you may be wondering what you need to do next to ensure that you receive the full amount of compensation you deserve. Whether you have been in a motor vehicle accident or have suffered an injury on someone else’s premises, it is…












PRESIDENTIAL CHESS: PLAYING THE LONG GAME WITH APPOINTMENT OF JUSTICES TO THE SUPREME COURT Article III of the Constitution created the authority for a Supreme Court of the United States, but the composition of the Court was left to the discretion of Congress. The Judiciary Act of 1789 proclaimed that the Supreme Court would be…












GOVERNOR HOCHUL SIGNS CONDITIONAL ADULT-USE CANNABIS CULTIVATION BILL Continuing the New York State Office of Cannabis Management’s momentum, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation creating a new type of adult-use cannabis license, the “Conditional Adult-Use Cannabis Cultivation” license. This license establishes a “fast-track” path for existing NYS hemp farmers to apply for a conditional license to…












THE NEW YORK STATE MASK MANDATE STAY: TO MASK OR NOT TO MASK? THAT IS NOT THE QUESTION. On January 31, 2022, a panel of Judges in the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department issued a Decision and Order on Motion, which stayed the enforcement of a Decision and Order that Nassau County Judge Thomas Rademaker…












MEDICARE VERSUS MEDICAID IN THE NURSING HOME SETTING When we talk about Medicaid asset protection, I often hear from clients “but I already have Medicare,” or “I have money, so I’ll never qualify for Medicaid.” But in the context of chronic care, there’s a lot of nuance to these issues. Here are the key differences:…












MARCH 1, 2022 DEADLINE IS APPROACHING FOR REAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION Deadline approaching: If you own commercial, industrial, agricultural or other real property, you may be entitled to a full or partial real property tax exemption. The March 1, 2022 deadline for filing real property tax exemptions is quickly approaching in most jurisdictions. Exemptions are…












REMOTE ONLINE NOTARIZATION MAKES A PERMANENT RETURN TO NEW YORK In March 2020, remote online notarization was introduced to New York as part of an array of gubernatorial Executive Orders to reduce the need for in-person meetings during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The order permitted any documents that would require a standard in-person notary to…











