Biderman's Blog

I find that clients tend to put off making their estate plan. Your own death is an unpleasant thing to contemplate. But once you have a good estate planning vehicle in place, you will be comforted knowing that your family will be taken care of even if you are not there.

If you die without a will or trust, the state you live in controls who inherits your property. Most people do not want that. They want to control their property and who it goes to. Estate planning attorneys can help you to control how your assets are distributed. Only an attorney versed in estate planning knows the many vehicles you can use and which will be right for you.

In addition, creating a will or trust will save your family money, time and headaches in the future. It is much easier, faster and cheaper to have the correct papers in place.  In some instances, you can avoid the need for the probate system entirely, by setting up a living trust. 

There are other documents which are also vitally important in handling your estate, such as a living will (the "pull the plug" document) and a power of attorney.

Contact Ms. Biderman sooner rather than later to get your estate in order. You will rest assured that your estate will be well ordered and you will have taken care of your family.

Right now is a difficult time for our country. Citizens are rightly angry over grand juries' refusals to indict police officers who kill black citizens. There seems to be a clear difference in the way citizens of color and Caucasians are treated, and that is not acceptable. 

IF YOU ARE STOPPED BY POLICE, no matter your race, do NOT argue with the officer. Comply with all requests or demands, even if they are unreasonable. Give them your attorney's information and do not say anything to the officers. Better safe than dead.

The Supreme Court is considering granting certiorari to review three employment law cases this session, all having to do with whether federal employment protections under Title VII extend to sexual orientation and gender identity. We will be watching closely to see how the law evolves in this area.

The IRS is warning citizens about a sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers throughout the country. Callers tell taxpayers that they owe money to the IRS, and that it must be paid immediately through a debit card or wire transfer. The victim is threatened with arrest, deportation, or suspension of business and driver's licenses if they do not comply. Often the caller has become hostile and insulting.

"This scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state in the country. We want to educate taxpayers so that they can protect themselves. Rest assured, we do not and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor request a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer," IRS Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel explained. "If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and threatens police arrest, deportation or license revocation if you don't pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn't the IRS calling."

If this happens to you, do not give any information over the phone. Call Ms. Biderman immediately for assistance.