Article by Nancy C. L. Stein, Esq., Staff Writer, PR4Lawyers

When writing a will, it is important to choose a competent and trustworthy person or institution as your executor. You should also choose an alternate executor just in case your first choice cannot fulfill the duties. But, what exactly is an executor? The executor is the person or institution, like a bank or trust company, named in a decedent's will to carry out the will’s terms and administer the decedent's estate. The decedent is the person who died and the decedent's estate is all of the property the decedent owned when he/she died. If you die without a will, your will does not name an executor or the named executor is not willing to act, the court will appoint an estate administrator.

Article by Nancy C. L. Stein, Esq., Staff Writer, PR4Lawyers

The goal of an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) is to design a course of action to meet the particular special education needs and related services of a student with a disability. A well-drafted IEP will include the student’s present performance levels and establish specific goals, objectives, and related service recommendations for the student.

Article by Nancy C. L. Stein, Esq., Staff Writer, PR4Lawyers

Faced with literally thousands of dollars in unpaid high-interest credit card and other debt, Americans are searching for ways to ease their financial burden. Among the popular methods of debt reduction or elimination is debt consolidation. Debt consolidation is used to combine the debts you are paying off such as credit cards, personal and student loans, and car payments. Monthly bills such as rent, water and electric bills and insurance premiums are not eligible for consolidation.

Article by Nancy C. L. Stein, Esq., Staff Writer, PR4Lawyers

A durable power of attorney is an important and powerful planning tool for estate planning and should include consideration and inclusion of Medicaid and other entitlement programs. The person who assigns the right using the power of attorney is the principal. By signing a power of attorney, you are giving another person the power to act on your behalf to manage your assets and affairs. You can assign this agent virtually all powers to perform on your behalf except acts that are testamentary in nature, like the authority to make or revoke your will. New York further limits the power of attorney, requiring a separate healthcare power of attorney or healthcare proxy power to make healthcare decisions on your behalf.