Estate Planning

Trusts and Estates

Estate Planning

 A well-designed estate plan allows you the unique opportunity to put your wishes in writing regarding medical decision making, asset management during life, and distribution of wealth after death.  Our estate planning lawyers pride themselves on discussing these important topics in understandable ways, enabling you to create a Health Care Proxy, Living Will, Power of Attorney, Last Will and Testament and, where appropriate, Revocable Living Trusts and Irrevocable Trusts.  While we can assist any New Yorker aged 18 or older with a simple estate plan, others require complex planning, estate tax planning, planning for nontraditional relationships and families, generational planning, and planning for families with special needs.  No client is too big or too small and each client has unique needs and circumstances.

Special Needs Planning 

Focused on the unique needs of persons with disabilities, regardless of age, planning for persons with special needs can never be done too soon.  Special needs planning enables you to implement a plan for the lifetime care and for the preservation of vital government benefits.  Understanding how your own estate plan might jeopardize your loved one to receive unique government funded programs allows you to incorporate appropriate special needs planning, such as the use of a Supplemental Needs Trust, into your estate plan, and guide family members in doing the same.  At times, the seeking of guardianship is required to as to ensure clear legal authority is in place to assist the person with special needs in living the fullest and most meaning life possible.  Doing so in advance and not during a time of crisis ensures the proceeding goes smoothly and without additional strain on your loved one.

Trust Creation, Implementation and Administration.   

Whether considering a Revocable Living Trust, and Irrevocable Trust, or the use of a Testamentary Trust, it is important to identify the reasoning behind your desired use of each.  Just as important is a clear knowledge of the benefits and drawbacks of each.  Not every type of trust is suitable for everyone, and everyone doesn’t need the same thing.  Collaborating with your GDWO attorney will enable you to effectively and efficient use these types of devices for the management and distribution of your wealth during life and at death.