Estate Planning Tips for Blended Families
Estate planning — the steps you take to provide for your loved ones in the event of your disability or death — can be even more complicated when a blended family is involved. This is generally defined as a marriage or civil union in which one or both partners have children from a previous relationship. […]
How NY Courts Determine a Child’s Best Interests in Custody Cases
Child custody can be an emotional and contentious aspect of a divorce case. However, the parents’ preferences or objections are not what determine the custody decision. The court will focus on what is in the best interests of the child. There is no statutory definition of the term “best interests” in New York. Rather, there […]
Who is Liable if You’re Hurt on a NYC Sidewalk?
The sidewalks of New York are common sites of accidents caused by poor weather or pavement conditions. If you trip or slip and fall due to no fault of your own, you may be able to recover damages from the person or entity responsible for maintaining that stretch of sidewalk. But how do you know […]
What Qualifies as a “Serious Injury” in a NY Auto Accident Case?
Car accident-related injuries can be debilitating and costly. However, New York is a no-fault insurance state, which means that your right to sue another driver for damages is limited. You must establish that you incurred economic losses exceeding your no-fault coverage or that you sustained a serious injury. The term “serious injury” is not subjective. […]
Can a Child’s Preference Influence Custody and Visitation Schedules?
New York family courts encourage divorcing or separating parents to work out custody and visitation schedules themselves whenever possible. But doing so requires a level of cooperation that many parents simply cannot muster, particularly when the children are mature enough to have a say in the arrangements. Children may express a preference for living with […]
Understanding How Injured People Get Compensation in Uber and Lyft Accidents
Uber first hit the streets of New York City in 2013, followed by Lyft the next year. Less than a decade later, these rideshare apps are used by about 800,000 customers per day. Unfortunately, like the yellow cabs they’ve largely displaced, rideshare vehicles are not accident-proof. If you were injured in an accident involving an […]
Choosing a Successor Trustee for Your Revocable Living Trust
When you sit down to do your estate planning, you might consider using a revocable living trust, rather than a will, to direct the distribution of your property. People choose trusts for a variety of reasons, including the fact that trusts let beneficiaries avoid the substantial time and expense of probate. A trust can also […]
How Might COVID-19 Change the Way Personal Injury Cases Are Litigated?
Like most other activities where in-person interaction is required, personal injury lawsuits have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This can put serious stress on parties who are looking to achieve a legal resolution to disputes stemming from auto accidents, falls and other times types of harmful incidents allegedly caused by a defendant’s negligence. Whether […]
What Types of Personal Injury Claims Might Result from COVID-19 Exposure?
COVID-19 exposure has led to a litany of serious health issues and tens of thousands of deaths. Though everyone’s health is top priority, afflicted individuals and family members of those who have been lost might wonder what type of claims can be brought in relation to coronavirus infections. Though each case is unique and it […]
Can You Bring an Emotional Distress Claim Related to COVID-19?
The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is not only potentially deadly, but can be transmitted by individuals who are not showing any symptoms, so people might fear that they’ve contracted the illness even if they feel fine. While the virus has existed in the United States for months, obtaining a test is still difficult in […]