NYC Estate Planning Attorneys

Giving Clients Advice and Peace of Mind for the Future

Thinking about your own death may not seem like a cheerful prospect. However, taking a few moments to prepare for what’s coming can give you peace of mind and a legacy of goodness for future generations. You may also make critical healthcare decisions that can provide instructions if you become incapacitated due to illness, age, or injury.

A good New York estate plan should cover many aspects of the person’s life. Whether you are looking to craft your own estate plan, are navigating estate administration on behalf of a loved one, or are helping an elderly family member create estate planning documents, you need guidance from an experienced estate planning attorney.

Your attorney can advise on the most important documents for your needs. They’ll also assess your needs and goals to ensure the terms of your estate plan match what you want the future to look like for your loved ones. Finally, with an estate lawyer on your side, you can quickly and successfully navigate the New York probate process.

What Estate Planning Documents are the Most Important for a New York Estate Plan?

With the wide range of estate planning documents available to New York residents, it is understandable to feel overwhelmed and confused. Some individuals require maximum asset and tax protection. Others want flexibility in how they distribute certain assets to beneficiaries. Some families need the ability to adjust their documents as the family grows or changes through marriage, birth, death, and divorce. Whatever your needs and goals are, our law firm will stand by your side and help you get the results you’re looking for.

Some examples of estate planning documents that can be used in a New York City estate plan include:

For more information about how to protect your assets, avoid probate proceedings, and navigate guardianship proceedings, please contact our law firm. We are ready to answer your questions and guide you in your search for peace of mind about your family’s future.

What Does a Living Will Do?

While a last will and testament are foundational for many estate plans, the living will is another document that can put your mind at ease and allow you to have a say in your medical care, even if you become unable to communicate your wishes. Since unexpected illnesses and accidents can happen at any age, it is important to consider whether a living will is right for you.

Living wills, a form of advance directives, can be helpful as they name healthcare proxies or individuals you trust to make decisions on your behalf. Some questions that could come up include whether you would submit to resuscitation attempts, antibiotics, dialysis, or mechanical ventilation. It can be helpful for your family members to have your wishes in written form so they don’t have to suffer the burden of making such difficult choices at a time of grief and shock.

Our New York legal team has the experience and knowledge necessary to help you craft a legally sound living will. We’ll protect your family members by ensuring your wishes are carried out if you become ill, injured, or unable to communicate. Contact our team of experienced, compassionate attorneys for legal advice about how you can better prepare for the unexpected.

What Are Trusts and How Can They Help Me?

Trusts are legal documents that dictate how you own your assets. For example, when you create a trust, you’ll indicate what items are now the trust’s property. Since the items belong to the trust, they are not legally in your name, making those assets easier to protect from tax collectors, creditors, and predators. Trusts are handled by a trustee who acts in your or your family’s best interests.

Another advantage that comes with trusts is the flexibility in distributing assets to beneficiaries after you die. Trust property is administered how, to whom, and in what time frame the deceased person wished.

One example of a trust that can operate in the beneficiary’s best interests is the spendthrift trust. If the deceased person’s assets are given to a child or an individual without the capacity to regulate their spending, the trust could be administered slowly and over a long period of time. Another popular trust is the special needs trusts, which provides a secure lifestyle for someone with special needs without jeopardizing government benefits.

Talk to our legal team today for more information about what options are available for you or any other financial matters. We’ll help you find the right trust for you and ensure everything is set up correctly so you can enjoy a lifetime of security and leave a legacy of goodness for your posterity.

How Can a Lawyer Help Me with the Estate Administration Process?

When a person dies, their assets go through specific legal processes to administer the estate. One of these processes is probate proceedings, where the will is validated. The probate court will determine whether the will meets New York’s terms of validity and get the administration process started.

Estate executors have several other duties, including inventorying the estate assets, notifying creditors of the person’s passing, distributing the inheritance, and filing taxes. Other duties may arise if the person has one or more trusts in their estate. These duties can be complex and overwhelming, but they must be completed promptly. With New York estate planning lawyers, you can get advice and support throughout the estate administration.

The legal team at Fisher Stone, P.C. has helped many clients successfully navigate estate administration, including the probate process. We understand how New York law impacts estate planning and administration, and we will apply that knowledge and experience to support you as you administer your loved one’s estate. We can also help other family members or friends with disputes regarding a will, trust, trustee, or executor.

What Are Some Risks of the New York Probate Process?

New York probate is not without risks. In fact, many people use estate planning to minimize the extent to which their property will be subject to probate. This helps protect assets from taxation, creditors, and disputes. It’s also ideal to protect your loved ones from going through the exhausting probate process. However, sometimes, probate cannot be avoided. Your estate planning lawyer can help ensure the probate process for your loved one goes as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Please don’t let these and other issues affect your ability to get the inheritance you deserve or to see your loved one’s estate distributed properly. Our legal team can help resolve disputes, handle litigation, assist with executor duties, and many other tasks. We’ll offer personalized advice based on your unique needs. If you want to avoid the probate process for your loved ones, we can help you create trusts and other documents that minimize taxes and protect your privacy. Call now to learn more!

What Makes Your Law Firm Unique?

At Fisher Stone, P.C., we have vast experience helping clients with a wide range of legal needs. We are recognized for our dedication to our clients and willingness to go above and beyond when a client has a unique legal need. Whether you are preparing your own estate plan or are handling assets, healthcare decisions, and other matters on behalf of a loved one, we’ll offer the counsel, representation, and support you need.

Thinking about your own death may not come naturally. But you can take simple steps now to protect your family. Our founding members are dedicated to giving each client the attention they need at such a delicate time. We’re prepared to offer excellent legal advice when vital decisions arise regarding your and your family’s future.

We recognize that estate planning is about more than money. It is about giving the people you care about the assistance they need for a fulfilling, secure future. Please let us help create and manage your estate plan so you can get on with your life and experience the peace of mind you need. Call Fisher Stone, P.C. today.

What Other Legal Cases Do Your Elder Law Attorneys Handle?

The legal team at Fisher Stone, P.C. handles more than just elder law and estate planning. We have experience in many legal practices in the State of New York, making us your ideal allies when you have a legal need. We promise to offer assistance based on every ounce of our skill, knowledge, and talent.

If you or a loved one needs help with any of the above or a related legal matter, please let us help. Our legal team is standing by to answer your questions in a free consultation, so you have nothing to lose by contacting us immediately.

Should You Hire Our NYC Estate Planning Attorneys?

Hiring an attorney is an excellent step forward as you create an estate plan that matches your family’s current and future needs. With the right elder law attorneys on your side, you can avoid excessive taxes, resolve disputes quickly, and provide for beneficiaries in the way that makes the most sense for your family.

At Fisher Stone, P.C., we are known for offering personalized service that matches each client’s wishes and goals. We will leverage our experience, knowledge, and honesty to help you decide how to prepare the right estate plan. We promise to listen carefully to your questions and concerns so you get the most out of your New York estate plan. We’ll also stand by your side if you are managing a loved one’s assets during the probate or estate administration process.

Call Fisher Stone, P.C., right away at 516-908-9519 to schedule a free consultation and discuss your unique concerns with our compassionate, capable lawyers.