Littman Krooks attorney Bernard A. Krooks will lead an interactive discussion and analysis of New York’s new Power of Attorney law. Significant changes have been made to the New York general obligations law and the statutory short form Power of Attorney.
The new law affects both the content and execution of the Power of Attorney form. Some of the major changes include:
• The agent must sign and date the Power of Attorney and that signature must be acknowledged by both the principal and the agent.
• A “prudent person standard of care” is provided that has statutorily defined responsibilities. Responsibilities include record keeping (with receipts) and a requirement for the agent to make records available within 15 days of a written request by a monitor, co-agent, certain governmental entities, a court evaluator, a guardian, or a representative of the principal’s estate.
• In order for the agent to have the authority to make gifts, the principal must initial a provision granting gift-making authority plus the execution of a “statutory major gifts rider” which must be acknowledged and have two witnesses.
According to Mr. Krooks, the program is a must for all estate planning practitioners. The new law will go into effect on September 1, 2009.
The program begins at 8:30 am. on March 31. A brown bag breakfast will also be served at Marcum & Kleigman offices in New York, located at 655 Third Avenue, 16th floor.
Bernard A. Krooks is a founding partner of the law firm Littman Krooks LLP with offices in New York City, White Plains and Fishkill. Mr. Krooks is President of the Special Needs Alliance (SNA), a national network of attorneys dedicated to assisting families with special needs planning. Mr. Krooks is past Chair of the Elder Law Section of the NYSBA, Chair of its Legal Education Committee, and past Editor-in-Chief of the Elder Law Attorney, the newsletter of the NYSBA Elder Law Section.
To learn more about New York elder law, New York estate planning, NY elder law, New York special needs planning, visit Littmankrooks.com.
