Blog
May
15
2023
Motorcycle Safety Tips
By Attorney Matthew Willis / In Personal Injury
Did you know that Connecticut is one of the top 10 most dangerous states for riding a motorcycle? Statistics show that 72 to 76 percent of all motorcycle crashes result in fatalities, while car accidents have around a 20% fatality rate. In ... Continue Reading »
May
09
2023
Life Estates: A Valuable Tool in Your Estate Planning Toolbox
By Attorney Allison Poirier / In Estate Planning
A life estate is a planning tool that can prove to be extremely useful from both an estate planning and an asset protection standpoint. So, what is a life estate?
A “life estate” is a type of ownership interest in an asset that allows ... Continue Reading »
Mar
31
2023
Thinking About Buying a Business? Some Things to Consider
By KKC Business Attorneys / In Business
When clients first come to KKC to discuss their intended purchase of a business, the conversation usually starts with the following question from the attorney that they are meeting with: “Are you buying the ownership interest in the business (i ... Continue Reading »
Mar
07
2023
When an owner of real estate has died and the property is to be sold, there are a few important differences from a sale involving a living person.
First, someone needs to obtain credentials to sell the real estate. If t ... Continue Reading »
Feb
10
2023
On October 1, 2022, the Connecticut Legislature amended Connecticut’s Fair Employment Practices Act (“CFEPA”) to apply to all employers with one or more employees, and to prohibit employment discrimination against domestic violence ... Continue Reading »
Jan
27
2023
Why You Should Consult With a Personal Injury Attorney
By KKC Personal Injury Attorneys / In Personal Injury
Why Should You Consider Hiring an Attorney After a Motor Vehicle Accident?
An attorney can often obtain more money for your claim than you can obtain on your own. The goal of every insurance adjuster is to minimize claims payouts to incre ... Continue Reading »
Jan
09
2023
In 2016, the Connecticut Legislature enacted Public Act 16-29, titled “An Act Creating the Connecticut Retirement Security Program (“the Act”). The Act created the Connecticut Retirement Security Authority (“CRSA”), the ... Continue Reading »
Dec
30
2022
Bittersweet Goodbye
By Attorney Douglas Manion / In General
All good things must come to end, including one’s career. After 39 ½ years of practicing law, I will be moving into semi-retirement at the end of 2022. While I’m happy to be heading South for the winter to be a “snowbird&rdqu ... Continue Reading »
Dec
13
2022
What Every Driver Should Know About Driving Under the Influence
By Attorney Matthew Willis / In Criminal Defense
Connecticut drivers thinking about having a few drinks before getting behind the wheel, beware! Connecticut residents whose licenses are suspended after being charged with operating under the influence are required to install a breathalyzer in t ... Continue Reading »
Oct
28
2022
VLOG: Incapacity Planning
By Attorney Allison Poirier / In Estate Planning
While estate plans typically focus on events that will happen years down the road, incapacity planning is more about the here and now since anyone at any age can be affected by a serious illness or injury. In this webinar, learn about how, throu ... Continue Reading »
Oct
13
2022
Alarming Rise in Pedestrian Fatalities: How to Stay Safe
By KKC Personal Injury Attorneys / In General
Pedestrian fatalities on CT and roadways throughout the United States have increased over the past decade. Deaths of pedestrians and cyclists are at 30-year highs. Factors that were suggested to lead to the recent rise include:
Lack of safe roa ... Continue Reading »
Oct
07
2022
Financial & Estate Planning for Women: 6 Things You Need to Know
By Attorney William Dakin / In Estate Planning
Marriage Issues
Have you set the date yet? Is your daughter getting married? Marriage is an important step. If both spouses have a similar financial situation, then perhaps no special planning needs to be considered. If there is a disparity in finan ... Continue Reading »
Sep
23
2022
Many articles have been written about the Gift Tax implications of estate planning gifts. For most individuals, a more important consideration should be the income tax implications of substantial gifts to family, to charities, or mixed gifts that ben ... Continue Reading »
Sep
09
2022
So You Have an Estate Plan. Now What?
By Attorney Stephen Sutton / In Estate Planning
Many of you reading this may have already had an estate plan prepared, and in doing so considered the distributions of your estate to your heirs, asset protection mechanisms, tax saving strategies, and/or probate avoidance. You spent time thinking ab ... Continue Reading »
Aug
26
2022
What Is the Divorce Process in Connecticut?
By Attorney Brandon Fontaine / In Divorce & Family Law
One of the most common questions we receive from new clients is, “What will the court process entail?” While every divorce case is unique, and the complexity of financial and parenting issues can vary widely, the following is a ... Continue Reading »
Aug
01
2022
Simplifying Your Estate Plan
By Attorney Allison Poirier / In Estate Planning
If you had your estate plan prepared more than 20 years ago, there’s a good chance you needed one or more three-ring binders to store all the documents. Perhaps due to a fear that picking up those hefty binders more than once could cause a back ... Continue Reading »
Jul
22
2022
A Checklist for Helping Your Aging Parents
By Attorney William Dakin / In Elder Law
So, you’re approaching retirement. You’ve spent years getting your financial plan in place. You’re looking at your nest egg and wondering if it is enough. You’re scrutinizing the optimal retirement date and when to apply for s ... Continue Reading »
Jul
08
2022
VLOG: Trusts
By Attorney Allison Poirier / In Estate Planning
What is a trust? What does it do? What are the differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts? Attorney Allison Poirier answers all these questions (and more!) in our Trusts 101 video. Learn the basics of trusts and when you might need one. To ... Continue Reading »
Jun
06
2022
7 Reasons You May Need to Update Your Estate Plan
By Attorney Allison Poirier / In Estate Planning
When I think of many people’s approach to estate planning, I am reminded of an infomercial from the late 1990s. The product being sold was a rotisserie oven, and the enthusiastic pitchman proclaimed that once the chicken was in the oven, you co ... Continue Reading »
May
23
2022
What Happens to Your Social Media Accounts When You Die?
By Attorney Allison Poirier / In Estate Planning
It’s no secret that Americans are spending more and more of their time online with each passing day: shopping, paying bills, sending emails, etc. Social media websites are a huge part of this trend. You find out about local events, parties, and ... Continue Reading »
May
04
2022
First Time Home Buyers--Where to Start
By KKC Real Estate Attorneys / In Real Estate
Some of your friends are starting to buy their first homes. You’ve got a good, steady job, you’ve been paying rent for a few years, you’ve built up some savings for a down payment, so you’ve decided it’s time to “t ... Continue Reading »
Apr
22
2022
VLOG: Facts in 5 Video - Structuring Your Assets
By Attorney Allison Poirier / In Estate Planning
Today we're introducing our new video series, Facts in 5, where we answer your most frequently asked questions in about 5 minutes. Today's topic is about how to structure your assets in order to avoid probate and keep things simple for y ... Continue Reading »
Apr
06
2022
Spring Yard Spruce Up: Read This Before You Start!
By Attorney Dorian Famiglietti / In Land Use & Zoning
Winters in New England can be rough. Wind, snow, and ice can really take a toll on your property. If you haven’t started your spring cleanup yet, a walk around your yard will probably turn up a slew of branches littering the ground, maybe ... Continue Reading »
Mar
18
2022
A common issue that arises for many when preparing their estate plan is resolving the struggle between equity vs. equality. Are there certain assets that are passing to some beneficiaries but not others? If so, are those beneficiaries receiving more ... Continue Reading »
Mar
04
2022
Why Your Business Needs a Buy-Sell Agreement
By KKC Business Attorneys / In Business
There is a lot of planning that goes into starting a business, however, one thing owners may not consider is what happens to the business if you retire, move on, become disabled, or die.
Buy-sell agreements help business owners prepare and easily ... Continue Reading »
Feb
23
2022
Subpoenas: What to Know if You've Been Served
By Attorney Michael Kopsick / In Litigation
Most of the cases I have been involved with over the last 30 years involve a “subpoena." The very idea of being subpoenaed makes many people weak in the knees. However, knowing what a subpoena is, what it can and cannot do, and what rights ... Continue Reading »
Feb
07
2022
6 Things to Know About Health Care Directives And Living Wills
By Attorney Allison Poirier / In Estate Planning
If you’re like most people, thinking about who you want making medical decisions for you in the event you become incapacitated is not likely very high on your list of things to do. It’s a very difficult thing to contemplate, and even more ... Continue Reading »
Jan
21
2022
Income Tax Records - How Long to Keep Them and Why
By Attorney Stephen Sutton / In Taxation
Tax season is a great time to examine the contents of your old filing cabinet and desk drawers, reduce the clutter, and shred any documents you no longer need. Many clients ask for guidance on how long you should retain your personal income tax and o ... Continue Reading »
Jan
07
2022
4 Health Tips for a More Effective You in 2022
By Attorney Michael Kopsick / In General
Lawyers often give a wide range of advice to their clients. Not all of that advice is focused on the law. Sometimes the most value a lawyer can add comes when he or she recognizes the need to change patterns and behaviors in order to address a proble ... Continue Reading »
Dec
22
2021
Coping With Divorce During the Holidays
By KKC Divorce Attorneys / In Divorce & Family Law
Divorce is often difficult. You’ve separated from a person you once loved and maybe still do. You had to figure out how to divide the assets you owned and the debt you had together. The holidays often bring up fond memories you made during a ma ... Continue Reading »
Dec
16
2021
VLOG: Probate 101
By Attorney Allison Poirier / In Probate
What is probate? What assets need to pass through probate? What tools can be used for avoiding probate? Will your estate have to pay an estate tax? Attorney Allison Poirier answers these questions and more in our Probate 101 video.
  ... Continue Reading »
Dec
03
2021
Most of our estate planning clients come to us as husband and wife. The estate plan is typically prepared with each spouse providing for the other on the death of the first spouse, and for the couple's children or other beneficiaries on ... Continue Reading »
Nov
18
2021
In honor of Thanksgiving, we asked KKC staff to share their favorite holiday recipes. We hope you find a new favorite or two.
Appetizers/Drinks
Mulled cider
Thanksgiving mules
Wine-baked olives and garlic cloves
Oven-roasted dates an ... Continue Reading »
Oct
29
2021
6 Things You Need to Plan for the Future
By KKC Estate Planning Attorneys / In Estate Planning
It's not pleasant to think about a time when you won't be here anymore. But it's very important to start thinking about this ahead of time so that you can prepare adequately. Many people pass away without a will, which makes things very c ... Continue Reading »
Oct
15
2021
Decades ago, it was common for the elderly to remain in the family home and be cared for by their extended family. Often the elderly owned the family homestead that provided shelter for their children and grandchildren. In exchange, the elderly recei ... Continue Reading »
Oct
01
2021
Appealing Your Property Tax Assessment
By Attorney Dorian Famiglietti / In Real Estate
The National Taxpayers Union estimates that between 30 and 60% of taxable property in the United States is overassessed. And while no one wants to pay more for taxes than they need to, fewer than 5% of homeowners challenge the assessed value of ... Continue Reading »
Sep
17
2021
Buying A Home As An Unmarried Couple? Four Things To Consider.
By KKC Real Estate Attorneys / In Real Estate
The number of unmarried partners living together nearly tripled in the past two decades, to 17 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And there’s a growing trend that more of those couples are buying a home together prior to getting marr ... Continue Reading »
Sep
03
2021
21st Century Estate Planning: Digital Assets
By Attorney Allison Poirier / In Estate Planning
In today’s society, nearly everyone has some form of digital presence. From email to Facebook to online banking, a large part of our personal and financial lives are online. These modern conveniences make it easier to manage our ... Continue Reading »
Aug
20
2021
As a business owner, the need for proper estate planning is essential, but in addition, a proper succession plan for your business is just as important. Given the fact that many small to midsized business owners spend a large amount of time and energ ... Continue Reading »
Aug
05
2021
Buying and Selling in a Hot Real Estate Market
By KKC Real Estate Attorneys / In Real Estate
Anyone looking to buy or sell a home these days? If so, you know that homes are selling quickly. As a seller, or a buyer, what should you be thinking about?
One of the primary explanations for the recent surge in prices is a lack of inventory, i.e ... Continue Reading »
Jul
23
2021
Modifying Child Support, Alimony, and Parenting Plans
By Attorney Brandon Fontaine / In Divorce & Family Law
Many of us have experienced significant life changes over the past year, particularly as the pandemic affected everything from health to employment to schooling. If you have divorce or custody orders that have been substantially impacted by life chan ... Continue Reading »
Jul
09
2021
Changes in CT’s Data Breach Laws, Cybersecurity Incentives for Businesses, and What You Need to Know About Insurance Coverage and Cybercrime
By Attorney Michael Kopsick / In Litigation
Cybersecurity breaches and computer crimes against our government and large businesses have made national news headlines for several years. In 2010, cyberattacks were listed for the first time as a top ten threat to global businesses. By 2020, it was ... Continue Reading »
Jul
02
2021
Legalization of Marijuana Creates Issues for Employers
By Attorney Michael Kopsick / In Litigation
On June 22, 2021, Governor Lamont signed into law a bill legalizing recreational marijuana in the state of Connecticut. This law creates a whole new set of rules for employers, most of which will not go into effect until July 1, 2022.
In essence, ... Continue Reading »
Jun
24
2021
Connecticut Passes Law Requiring Employers to Disclose Wage Ranges to Both Applicants and Employees
By Attorney Michael Kopsick / In Litigation
On June 7, 2021, Governor Lamont signed a bill requiring employers to disclose salary ranges for positions to both applicants and employees. The law also expands Connecticut’s prohibition on gender-based pay discrimination to now require equal ... Continue Reading »
Jun
11
2021
There are some crazy laws from Connecticut's past that still exist today. Why? Because they were created during a time when society looked very different, and it required unique guidelines to keep the peace. They were never stricken from the rule ... Continue Reading »
May
28
2021
VLOG: Medicaid Rules for Eligibility
By Attorney Allison Poirier / In Elder Law
Attorney Allison Poirier wraps up National Elder Law Month with a video on Medicaid Rules for Eligiblity. Topics covered include:
-How much money are you able to keep
-How to spend down your assets to become eligible
-Tools for preserving your a ... Continue Reading »
May
21
2021
Every year, millions of older Americans lose billions of dollars to scammers. And while millennials are now the most likely age group to fall victim to scams, the 60+ age group is the most frequent target of fraud, and the monetary loss is highest in ... Continue Reading »
May
18
2021
VLOG: Long-Term Planning: It's Not Just for Seniors
By Attorney William Dakin / In Elder Law
Since May is National Elder Law Month, we have two vlog posts this month that will focus on important aspects of Elder Law: Long-Term Care Planning and Medicaid Eligibilty. Our first entry is Long-Term Care Planning. Check back at the end of the ... Continue Reading »
Apr
30
2021
Do You Really Need a Will?
By Attorney Kevin McCann / In Estate Planning
Joint accounts, rights of survivorship, accounts payable on death, trustee accounts, powers of attorney, designated beneficiaries – with all of the various methods of managing and transferring property and assets, does anyone really need a Will ... Continue Reading »