Archive for the Legal Information Category

If you own real property and are looking to transfer it to your children or if you inherited real property and want to sell it, then you should consider the tax consequences. The sale of real property is a taxable event that must be reported on the […]

A Will contest is a challenge brought by a decedent’s heirs to challenge the validity of their Last Will and Testament. In many states, including New York, any of the decedent’s heirs (next of kin) can bring a lawsuit to contest a Will. The only legal reasons […]

In this article, I will focus on Long Term Care Expenses and how they can bankrupt your life savings. Italian-Americans, like other groups, came to this country in search of the “American Dream” and worked hard to build homes for themselves and a legacy to pass to their […]

If you are the parent or grandparent of a person who is disabled, or simply wish to leave all or part of your estate to a person who is disabled, then you must carefully plan your estate to protect the person who is disabled and the inheritance. […]

In my last article I discussed the Court process known as Probate and its many pitfalls. In this article, I will focus on avoiding Probate if you own real estate. Your home is usually your most important and most valuable asset. Therefore, it is an asset that […]

In your Will, you will need to name a person or institution, called an executor, to manage your estate when you pass away. Choosing the right Executor is crucial to making sure your wishes are carried out. The choice is important because being a executor can be […]

Many people come to me with confused ideas about what a Last Will and Testament is and what it does. Today I would like to give you a better understanding of the Last Will and Testament. A Last Will and Testament is an important legal document which […]

When planning for incapacity, a Power of Attorney is an important legal document. A Power of Attorney is a document in which you appoint a person to act as your agent to make legal and financial decisions on your behalf. In most cases, the person appoints a […]

My name is Giovanni P. Silvagni and I am an attorney with over 17 years of experience handling matters relating to Elder Law, Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts, Probate and Real Estate.  My partner, Ida Como and myself, are both the children of Italian immigrants and maintain […]

The Court process known as Probate can be very confusing. Probate is a Court proceeding where the Court validates your Last Will and Testament so that assets which are titled solely in your name can be administered. Assets which are titled solely in your name are frozen […]