NY Trusts and Estates Attorneys Helping You Plan

Preserving your family’s wealth for future generations
Whether you’re planning the parameters of your future medical care or establishing support for loved ones upon your death, attorneys at Wickham, Bressler & Geasa, P.C. can help with all aspects of trusts and estates issues, including:

Securing your legacy
You work hard for your family, so knowing that you have planned for their long-term well-being and financial security can bring you comfort. We thoroughly analyze your estate and strategize the best means of transferring your assets to reflect your wishes and the circumstances of your family situation.  Properly drafted wills can  minimize taxes, establish guardianship for your children, establish trusts to protect funds left to beneficiaries, provide a means for caring for your pets, advantangeously support personal philanthropic causes and protect your loved ones.

Draft your last will and testament, trust and living will
A will, trust, or other means of estate planning is essential at every stage of your life. Your last will provides the opportunity to distribute your property, establish care for your children and otherwise express your wishes upon your death. If you die without a will, the court determines how your property is distributed, who cares for your children and even what happens to your pet – making decisions that might not reflect your desires.  A trust might better protect your wishes with respect to family members or domestic partners and can avoid pitfalls of probate that might pertain to your situation.
Even if your largest asset is your underage child, a simple will is essential to provide a guardian without the necessity for court intervention, uncertainty and delay, or competing interests, in the event of an unexpected tragedy.
Your living will sets the parameters for medical intervention should you become incapacitated. This assures that when you are most vulnerable, your wishes will be honored.

Changing your will or trust
As your life changes, so might your estate plan. You may need to update your will throughout your life. We draft valid codicils, new wills, or trust amendments that address changes in your financial situation, marital status, number of children, philanthropic interests and general lifestyle decisions.

Appointment of guardianship
If you have minor children, your will allows you to make decisions about their future care. This is especially crucial if you are a single parent or if both parents die in a common incident. If you do not name a guardian, the court will appoint a guardian for your children and can make decisions adverse to your ultimate parenting goals. You can also make arrangements for your pets’ care in your will, including naming a guardian to take responsibility for your pets.

Probate
Our attorneys apply their extensive knowledge about NY probate court to guide you through the process of probating a will. We assist executors in all steps of the process, including:

•    Creating a plan of action to probate the estate expeditiously
•    Filing the will with the Surrogate’s Court in New York
•    Closing and opening bank accounts
•    Transferring assets from the deceased to the estate, and ultimately to the beneficiaries
•    Valuing the estate assets
•    Assistance with liquidating assets as appropriate
•    Determining taxability of the estate and preparation of estate tax returns and releases of lien of real property
•    Locating beneficiaries
•    Hiring professionals and experts when necessary.

We also handle Ancillary Probates, where an out of state resident died owning real property in New York State, and can assist with probates of decedents who died in another state by coordinating with local counsel.
We also handle Administration Proceedings, where the decedent did not leave a will and died intestate.
•    Creating a plan of action to probate the estate fairly and expeditiously
•    Filing the will with the probate court in NY
•    Closing and opening bank accounts
•    Transferring assets from the deceased to the estate
•    Locating beneficiaries
Probate disputes
When disputes occur between beneficiaries, we successfully represent your interests. Our NY attorneys have the extensive knowledge to challenge invalid wills or to defend valid wills against the improper assertions of dissatisfied beneficiaries. Our attorneys can negotiate among beneficiaries to preserve relationships or fastidiously pursue your rights in court when necessary.

Estate Tax Issues
Many estates are now under the estate tax threshold. However, many estates will be subject to estate tax if proper planning to take advantage of estate tax laws is not employed. Our attorneys cna help plan your estate with the goal of minimizing estate taxes. We handle the most complex estate tax issues for large estates where estate taxes will be a factor.

Contact an estate planning law firm you can trust, Wickham, Bressler & Geasa, P.C.
For estate planning services, call Wickham, Bressler & Geasa, P.C. at 631-298-8353 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.