Estate Planning Lawyers in New York City

Estate planning lawyers in New York City help residents decide how their property passes on, who makes decisions if they become ill and how to limit estate tax. In a city with high property values and many international families, even a modest apartment can make planning worthwhile. Typical clients are couples with children, business owners, non US citizens with assets in New York and people who own property in several countries.

The usual documents are a will, a revocable trust, a durable power of attorney and a health care proxy. New York has its own estate tax, separate from the federal one, and its thresholds differ, so planning has to look at both. Probate and estate administration take place in the Surrogate's Court of the county where the person lived, which means each borough has its own court. Non citizen spouses and foreign owners of New York real estate face special federal rules, so cross border advice matters. An estate planning lawyer in New York can be verified through the attorney search of the New York State Unified Court System.

Flat fees are common for wills and standard trust packages, while complex planning and estate administration are usually billed hourly. Executors in New York are entitled to statutory commissions, which are separate from the lawyer's fee. Before hiring estate planning lawyers in New York City, list your assets by country, note how each is titled, check beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance and decide who should act as executor and guardian. Then compare the firms below and contact them directly.