Wills

Overview

A will is the cornerstone of an estate plan. It directs who receives your property, appoints the executor who will carry out your instructions, and, for parents, designates a guardian to care for minor children.

Without a valid will, New York will decide where your assets go instead of you. The intestacy statutes distribute your estate to relatives in a fixed order, and the Surrogate’s Court appoints the person who administers it. Those default rules rarely match what people actually want, and they can leave loved ones facing uncertainty, delay, and disputes at the worst possible time.

A properly prepared will replaces that uncertainty with your own instructions. We take the time to understand your circumstances, draft a document that says precisely what you intend, and supervise its execution with the formalities New York law requires.

What we handle

• Last wills and testaments for individuals and couples
• Appointment of executors and successor executors
• Designation of guardians for minor children
• Specific bequests of property, funds, and personal items
• Residuary estate provisions and beneficiary planning
• Proper execution and witnessing under New York law
• Reviews and updates of existing wills as life changes