Changes in Power of Attorney Forms for New York State

Blumberg announces an important update to their New York State Power of Attorney Forms. This update complies with amendments to the Power of Attorney Statute that takes effect June 13, 2021. For over 100 years courts have relied on Blumberg Powers of Attorney forms. The distinctive boilerplate and usage in countless transactions have become the trusted choice of attorneys and the financial, real estate, business, and healthcare communities.

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Gaining Goodwill by Organizing Estates

Estate Planing

About four years ago, musician Prince Rogers Nelson died from an overdose of an addictive pain killer at the age of 57. He was beloved by the citizenry of his hometown but died without a living spouse, children, or parents. His relatives are now battling over his estate which is valued between $100 to $300 million. Administration of the estate is complicated by his failure to leave a will and personal financial records.

Help your clients avoid Prince’s problems by organizing their estates.

This article contains tips and resources to help clients organize important documents and personal information.

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An Easy and Efficient Way to Organize Data for Your Heirs

By Mike Forman
COO and VP, Chief Financial Officer, Blumberg

In a world of fast paced, online financial data, it has become increasingly difficult to manage and maintain all our information. Paper vs. paperless, websites, user names and passwords as well as data encryption have most of us struggling to keep a handle on all of it. Now imagine your loved ones having to figure all this out upon your passing. Trying to locate your assets, life insurance and related documents could be a monumental task. Where would they begin?

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Sunset on Sunset Boulevard

Circa 1923: American silent screen star Gloria Swanson (1897 – 1983) in a scene from an unknown film.

The following is an excerpt from “Wills of the Rich & Famous: A Fascinating Glimpse at the Legacies of Celebrities”  by Herbert E. Nass, Esq.

DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH
March 27, 1899
Chicago, Illinois

DATE AND PLACE OF DEATH
April 4, 1983
New York Hospital
New York, New York

The only child of Joseph and Adelaide Svensson, Glo­ria May Josephine Svensson was born in Chicago in 1899. Gloria Svensson adopted the name “Swanson,” and she became the glittering goddess of Hollywood’s roaring twenties. Ms. Swanson summed up her larger-­than-life presence in films with her famous line in the 1950 film Sunset Boulevard: “I am big. It’s the movies that got small.”

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Above New York and Below New Mexico

Georgia O'Keeffe last will and testament
Georgia O’Keeffe

The following is an excerpt from “Wills of the Rich & Famous: A Fascinating Glimpse at the Legacies of Celebrities”  by Herbert E. Nass, Esq.

DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH
November 15, 1887
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

DATE AND PLACE OF DEATH
March 6, 1986
St. Vincent’s Hospital
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Georgia O’Keeffe was one of the unique artistic forces of the twentieth century. In 1916 she had a one­ woman exhibition of her paintings at famed photogra­pher Alfred Stieglitz’s legendary “291” Fifth Avenue gallery in New York. That show established O’Keeffe as an important emerging artist; she continued to delight critics until her death seventy years later at the age of ninety-­eight.

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Does a will need to be printed on legal size paper?

Will stationery paper size has no effect on the validity of a will. In the past, legal size paper was a tradition, but either letter or legal size paper can be used.

On the other hand, the quality of the will paper is important. Ever notice the way that a document printed on copy paper discolors and deteriorates after a few years? Documents such as wills, trusts, deeds—which must last for decades—call for archival quality paper.  Archival paper also suits the import of such documents.

Archival paper is acid free and made with cotton. The best is 100% cotton although 50% and 25% grades also resist discoloration and deterioration. A 24 lb. paper tends to stand up better than a 20 lb. A smoother, harder surface, such as a ledger finish, resists accumulation of dust and dirt better than softer bond, linen and laid finishes.  Copy papers are usually 20 lb. and contain no cotton content.

Click here to see our selection of will papers.

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