An Overview of the Probate Process

As the owner of the Law Offices of Barbara Katsos in New York, NY, Barbara Katsos provides legal services to individual and corporate clients. In addition to real estate, family law, and other legal services, Ms. Katsos provides estate planning services that include probate proceedings. A legal process, probate involves a court authenticating a will and supervising the distribution of a deceased person's assets. Although probate is not always required, it is often necessary to clear and transfer titles, settle disputes, and collect debts. Typically, probate begins with the location of a will and other legal documents related to an estate. A will, which details who should receive what assets, can simplify the probate process. Regardless of whether there is a will, the court will approve a personal representative to handle the deceased person's affairs throughout probate. Following this, a notice to creditors is published, heirs are notified, assets are identified, and debts are paid. The personal representative will also file tax returns for the estate and prepare an account statement for the court and heirs. Lastly, the court will approve the account and distributed assets accordingly.

The ABA 2018 Spring Continuing Legal Education Conference in May

Barbara Katsos leads a team of skilled lawyers at the Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos, a firm based in New York, NY, that provides legal representation and assistance in various areas of law. Ms. Katsos is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA). The ABA will hold its 2018 Spring Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Conference in May. Designed to enable legal practitioners to advance their knowledge and understanding of family law, the conference offers participants the chance to form professional connections with legal personnel from around the globe. Participants may select from 18 comprehensive CLE programs. Conference activities provide 16 general CLE credit hours and 3 ethics/professionalism CLE credit hours. In addition to CLE programs, the conference invites participates to explore the host city of Nashville, Tennessee. Registered participants will receive room discounts at the conference hotels, the Omni Nashville Hotel and the nearby Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown. The ABA 2018 Spring CLE Conference will take place May 9-12.

A Look at Three Branches of Family Law in New York

Based in New York, NY, Barbara Katsos owns and operates the Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos, where she and her team focus their work in several legal specialties. Under the leadership of Barbara Katsos, the firm provides family law services to its clients. In New York, the field of family law covers a range of areas to guide families through the difficult process of separation. The state separates family law into a number of branches, including the following: Divorce - New York law states that a couple may apply for divorce after they have lived separately for a minimum of 12 months. The couple must have also married in the state, and at least one partner must have made their home there for more than a year. The State of New York acknowledges several other grounds for divorce, including wrongful treatment and adultery. In 2010, the state also implemented a “no fault” divorce law that allows couples to divorce after facing irreconcilable differences for more than six months. Child Custody - The State of New York strives to honor the best interests of the children in any child custody case. Depending on the familial situation, the courts may allow only one parent to act as the decision maker and caretaker for the children. In cases where familial relocation is involved, New York courts will base their decision on numerous factors, including how the move would affect the children's contact with their other parent and how close the children are to each parent. Spousal Support - Officially called “maintenance” in New York, spousal support constitutes any monetary assistance that one spouse provides to the other following divorce. Courts may award temporary maintenance to one spouse if he or she requires such support throughout divorce proceedings. Afterward, the spouse may receive permanent maintenance payments. Courts will determine this amount based on such factors as the duration of the marriage and whether the spouse has the capacity to become financially self-sufficient in the future.

The Responsibilities of a Court-Appointed Referee

Before establishing the Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos, PC, in New York, NY, Barbara Katsos earned her law degree from the University of the City of New York School of Law, also known as CUNY Law. In addition to practicing law at the Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos, PC, Barbara Katsos has also served as a court-appointed referee for the Queens County Supreme Court. Court-appointed referees are responsible for presiding over evidentiary hearings and providing reports regarding conclusions and findings. Notices of findings are published by the referee and are given to both parties for review, with the plaintiff having up to 15 days to either accept or reject the decision. Court-appointed referees in the Queens County Supreme Court work in a variety of areas, including residential foreclosures. Referees in this area are responsible for working with clients to resolve disputes arising from residential foreclosure decisions. Referees assist clients with proper filing of needed paperwork, as well as offering advise on required disclosures and settlement issues.

What Is Estate Administration?

An accomplished lawyer, Barbara Katsos has won many cases, including a successful verdict on appeal that a number of business textbooks on ethics have used as an example of a fraudulent inducement case. Her New York, NY-based law firm, The Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos, provides a wide range of services, including estate administration. After a person dies, their estate must be gathered and managed. Estate administration entails collecting the assets of the estate to be inventoried and appraised. The debt and taxes of the deceased are also collected and paid, and what remains of the assets after payment of debt and taxes are distributed to the beneficiaries. In what is known as a probate proceeding, a responsible party is appointed by the court to manage the estate. This party is often called a personal representative or an executor, and could be the spouse, a trusted attorney, a company, or anyone who was nominated in the will, provided they are without a felony conviction. If there is no will, the probate court appoints an administrator. The executor or administrator carries great responsibility, and should therefore be carefully chosen and willing to perform the task of administering the estate.

The Importance of Having a Will

A graduate of the City University of New York School of Law, Barbara Katsos also holds a PhD in educational administration from New York University. At The Law Offices of Barbara Katsos in NY, clients receive guidance and representation in a number of practice areas, including estate planning and wills. A will isn’t just a document that determines how your assets will be handled after death. It’s an important guidance tool to help determine how certain debts will be paid, who will take care of minor children, and who will serve as the person who makes sure everything is carried out accordingly - this person being known as the estate's executor. In the absence of a will, these matters will be carried out in accordance with state law, and the results may or may not reflect a person’s wishes. Not leaving a will creates a complicated situation where one need not exist. This is why it’s important to consult with a knowledgeable attorney and put pen to paper and officially record one’s wishes. With a will in place, loved ones can be spared from having to navigate the often convoluted legal process of probate.

Finding the Right Real Estate Lawyer

With a JD from the City University of New York School of Law and experience spanning more than two decades, Barbara Katsos manages The Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos, PC, in New York, NY. Through her private law firm, Barbara Katsos handles a variety of legal needs relating to commercial, corporate, and real estate litigation. Although real estate lawyers are extremely important for protecting your rights during a real estate transaction, it’s not necessarily easy to find the ideal ones. Regardless of your specific interests and needs, you must start your search early to ensure that you have plenty of time to research and evaluate your options properly. There are numerous ways to find possible real estate lawyers. However, personal referrals from colleagues, family members, or friends who have had a good experience with a particular lawyer may prove the most helpful. Such trusted individuals can provide information about a lawyer’s ability to help, fees, and professionalism. If referrals aren’t an option, you can explore local law organizations’ online resources. Once you have a list of options, you should start looking into each lawyer’s experience and history. Make sure he or she is knowledgeable about real estate in your particular city and familiar with handling the matter with which you need help. You may also be able to find information about his or her past cases online. If possible, try scheduling an in-person or phone interview as well. During this time, you can ask the lawyer about his or her experience, fees, services, and any potential conflicts of interest.

Finch College Alumni Association Foundation Trust’s Three Scholarships

Barbara Katsos provides commercial, corporate, and real estate litigation assistance through The Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos, PC, in New York, NY. Over the years, she has helped clients win decisions relating to defamation, wrongful dismissal, and breach of contract matters. Barbara Katsos also serves as legal counsel for the Finch College Alumni Association Foundation Trust. Since 1993, the Finch College Alumni Association Foundation Trust has been rekindling and maintaining connections between graduates, friends, and faculty from Finch College. Despite the institution closing many years ago, the Alumni Association Foundation Trust continues to support young women through three annual scholarships: 1. Finch College Scholarship at Birch Wathen Lenox School. This scholarship is designed only for secondary students at the Birch Wathen Lenox School, another institution founded by Finch College founder Jessica Cosgrave. The scholarship provides partial tuition to help women complete their studies. 2. Freya Moskowitz Stern Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to four women in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey who are transferring from community college to a four-year institution. Each scholarship totals $5,000 and is divided into two segments that are given upon a woman’s acceptance into college and at the beginning of her last term. 3. Finch College Alumni Scholarship. Similar to the Freya Moskowitz Stern Scholarship, this award is granted to women in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey who are transferring from community college to a four-year college. Several women are awarded this scholarship each year, and a total of $5,000 is split in half and given out over the course of two years.

How the New York City Bar Association Legal Referral Service Works

Barbara Katsos is an attorney and entrepreneur that holds degrees from New York University and the University of the City of New York Law School in Queens, NY. Currently, Barbara Katsos is the owner of the Law Offices of Barbara Katsos and is a member on several panels of the New York City Bar Association’s Legal Referral Service. The Legal Referral Service is just one element of the New York City Bar Association. Founded in 1870, the Association is a professional association for regional lawyers and law students. The association works to ensure the legal profession operates at the highest standards and promotes like-minded legal reforms. The Legal Referral Service fits into the association’s mission, as it provides a free service to the public in the form of assistance with finding a lawyer. The process begins with a call placed to the services hotline. A representative then collects any necessary information and determines if the case should be routed to a pre-screened lawyer or another more cost-effective resource if appropriate. The service, which was founded in 1946, is the oldest legal referral program in the state of New York.

Required Elements of a Defamation Case

Barbara Katsos is a New York-based attorney that has two decades of legal experience. A graduate of the University of the City of New York Law School in Queens, NY, Barbara Katsos currently serves as the owner of Law Offices of Barbara Katsos, where she recently won a unanimous decision from the Supreme Court Appellate Term on the issue of defamation. Defamation is generally defined as any action that harms another person’s reputation. There are two types of defamation. "Libel" refers to written defamation, while "slander" refers to verbal defamation. While not a crime, defamation can be deemed a civil wrong known as a "tort." This can lead to a lawsuit and punitive damages. In a civil case, the injured party must show that defamation occurred by proving that several elements were present. First, proof must be shown that a defaming statement was made, either spoken or written. In addition, the defamation must be a false statement and have been seen by other individuals. Finally, the injured party must show that the defamation caused injury to them. This injury can take a variety of forms, ranging from public embarrassment to monetary or job losses.

The New York City Bar Association’s City Bar Fund

For more than two decades, Barbara Katsos has been practicing law in New York. Specializing in estate planning, trusts, and wills, she serves as the owner of the Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos, PC. Maintaining an active presence in the professional community, Barbara Katsos belongs to numerous organizations, including the New York City Bar Association. Since its founding in 1870, the New York City Bar Association has been committed to promoting practice excellence and legal reform. To assist with its overall mission, the organization maintains a nonprofit branch called the City Bar Fund. The City Bar Fund was established in 1946 and currently operates four programs: the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, the City Bar Justice Center, and the Lawyer Assistance Program. These programs seek to impact the New York City community in a positive way. Thanks to the support of the City Bar Fund, these programs have been able to help more than 30,000 individuals in just one year. They expand access to justice for victims of domestic violence, immigrants, and other vulnerable groups in New York City and build connections between lawyers from various countries. Furthermore, they help law firms adopt best practices for diversity, provide students who are interested in law with development and educational programs, and provide substance-abuse counseling and mental health services to legal professionals in the city.

Finch College Alumni Association Foundation Trust’s Cosgrave Award

Barbara Katsos, attorney and owner of the Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos, PC, provides her clients with legal services relating to wills, trusts, real estate law, and family law. Dedicated to supporting her community, Barbara Katsos also serves as legal counsel for the Finch College Alumni Association Foundation Trust. Established in 1993, the Finch College Alumni Association Foundation Trust seeks to maintain connections between Finch College graduates and teachers. As part of its efforts to honor outstanding alumnae, the trust maintains the Jessica Cosgrave Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was created in memory of Finch College’s founder, Jessica Finch Cosgrave, and recognizes significant contributions that an alumna has made to the arts, business or volunteer work, or public life. All nominees must demonstrate a devotion to the Finch College motto and be a dues-paying member. Every year, the Finch College Alumni Association Foundation Trust requests that its alumnae submit nominations for the award. Nominators must complete the proposed candidate form and write a letter of recommendation to send to the Cosgrave Awards Committee. Further, they should request letters of recommendation from other individuals who know the candidate. The Cosgrave Awards Committee, a group of seven Finch alumna appointed by the college president, then review all candidates and select the honorees.

The Importance of a Will

As the head of her firm, The Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos, PC, attorney Barbara H. Katsos helps her clients with a range of legal issues, including estates, wills, and trusts. Since starting her firm in 1997, Barbara H. Katsos has been working to ensure that her clients are informed and educated to make the best choices, including creating effective wills. Having a will is important for several reasons. Dying without a proper will means that decisions about your property and your family will be in the hands of the state. For example, if you have not explicitly named a guardian for your children under 18, the state will appoint someone for them. Further, any property you leave behind will automatically go to your children, even if there are other people, such as siblings or parents, that you would like to leave something in the event of your death. An attorney can write an effective and clear will that ensures your property and your debts are handled in the way you prefer and that your dependents and loved ones are cared for appropriately. In addition, a will can help your estate avoid costly taxes and complications that could arise in the event of your death without a will.

Wills Versus Living Trusts

For nearly two decades, Barbara Katsos has been leading the Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos as owner and attorney. Beyond managing all aspects of the firm’s operations, she works directly with clients. Barbara Katsos specializes in providing legal assistance for estate planning, wills, and trusts. Most individuals have heard the terms “will” and “living trust” before, but the difference between the two may not be entirely clear. Wills detail how an individual wants their property to be distributed upon their death. It is a signed and witnessed written document that is subject to amendment during the holder’s lifetime. Meanwhile, a living trust details an individual’s desires for both after-death and lifetime property management. It can help individuals avoid probate on their assets, control their property after death, and prevent their financial affairs from entering into public record. Although the two documents accomplish similar things, there are certain times when one is better than the other. Unlike a living trust, wills become public documents upon the death of their holders. They allow individuals to name guardians for their children and give holders the chance to name an executor and a property manager for their children’s property. Further, wills are simpler to make than trusts. However, trusts have the benefit of allowing holders to avoid probate, maintain privacy, and protect against court challenges. Choosing between the two documents largely depends on an individual’s personal situation.

The Finch College Alumni Association Foundation Trust Supports Women

With a law degree from the City University of New York School of Law, a PhD in educational administration and an MA in special education from New York University, and a BS in elementary education from Finch College, Barbara H. Katsos is the head of her own law firm, The Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos, PC. As an alumna of Finch College, Dr. Katsos was selected to serve as the legal counsel for the Finch College Alumni Association Foundation Trust. Finch College was founded by Jessica Cosgrave , who was in the first graduating class of Barnard College. As one of only seven women in the class, she found her time at Barnard to be mostly a waste. Ms. Finch decided to create a school where women could learn practical skills that would be useful to them in their lives. Finch was passionately interested in women’s suffrage and socialism and aimed to prepare her female students with the skills to be powerful working women in their communities and social activists as well. Founded in 1900 with only 13 students, by 1904, Finch College had grown enough to require a larger location. After many years of service, the school finally closed its doors in 1976. In 1993, the Finch College Alumni Association Foundation Trust was created to bring back together the women who were a part of the school. Since then, Finch College alumni meet every year to reconnect. Their membership dues create awards and scholarships that help more young women get the education they need to become powerful in their own communities.

The New York City Bar Association - Assistance for Small Law Firms

Barbara Katsos is the owner of the Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos, PC. A graduate of the University of the City of New York Law School in Queens, Ms. Katsos is a member of numerous professional organizations including the New York City Bar Association. The New York City Bar Association (NYCBar) was founded in 1870. Members of the association are granted numerous benefits such as networking events and professional resources. The association also supports and seeks to connect with attorneys in alternative workplaces, such as small law firms. NYCBar offers mentoring programs for legal practitioners at small and private firms, giving them the opportunity to interact with and learn from more experienced lawyers in specialized areas of their practice. Mentees are encouraged to meet with their mentors to ask advice on cases, and are charged a reduced hourly rate for this assistance. The association also runs the Small Law Firm Center, where lawyers can access additional services that may not be otherwise available to them as smaller businesses. Members can reserve a free work space and conference room, undertake legal research on-site, and subscribe to a regular newsletter to keep abreast of the latest developments in the legal sphere.

Grounds for Divorce in New York

As owner of The Law Offices of Barbara H. Katsos, PC, attorney Barbara Katsos represents clients in a broad range of estate, family, business, and real estate matters. In the state of New York, couples can file for fault-based or no-fault divorce. A no-fault divorce requires that the couple state that the marriage has broken down and has been irreparable for a minimum of six months. Courts will grant a divorce for this reason if the couple has agreed on all custody, property division, and support matters. Fault-based divorces are possible if one spouse has abandoned the other for at least 12 months. Evidence of such abandonment may include leaving the marital home or forcing one's spouse out of the home. Refusal of sexual contact for a year or more, an act known as constructive abandonment, similarly allows the refused spouse to seek divorce. A spouse may also claim fault if his or her partner has been incarcerated for at least three years in succession, assuming that the imprisonment began after the date of the marriage. Such grounds are available during the incarceration, or as many as five years after the sentence ends. Grounds for fault also include any actions that make it emotionally or physically unsafe for one spouse to live with the other. A spouse seeking divorce on these grounds must cite specific actions and indicate the nature of the risk. Similar requirements exist for a spouse who seeks divorce on the grounds of adultery, as evidence from someone outside the marriage is necessary to validate the claim.