Wills & Trusts Lawyers in New York, NY

New York asset protection involves layering — exemption planning, business entities, retirement accounts, and (for some) Domestic Asset Protection Trusts (DAPTs) in DAPT-friendly states.

New York blended families need careful estate planning to avoid disinheriting biological children when surviving spouse remarries — QTIP trusts, life insurance, and specific structures address the conflict.

New York business succession requires coordinated estate + business planning — buy-sell agreements, life insurance funding, key-person insurance, and gradual transition plans. Without it, families lose businesses to taxes, disputes, or chaos.

New York charitable trusts combine philanthropy with tax planning. Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) and Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs) provide income / estate / gift tax benefits.

New York digital-asset planning is governed by RUFADAA (adopted in 48 states) — fiduciaries can access digital accounts only if user explicitly consented. Without planning, families lose access to email, photos, crypto, and online accounts.

New York elective share: 1/3 of net estate or $50K, whichever is greater (with offsets).

New York estates may face federal estate tax (40% above ~$13.99M / individual in 2025) plus state estate or inheritance tax — most estates use lifetime gifting + trusts to minimize tax.

New York guardianship cases — for minors, incapacitated adults, or both — are heard in Surrogate's Court (minors); Article 17-A or 81 proceedings (adults). Process requires petition, evaluation, hearing, ongoing reporting.

New York healthcare directives: Healthcare Proxy + MOLST + Family Health Care Decisions Act (FHCDA).

New York heirs' property — land passed without a will or proper estate planning, owned by multiple heirs as tenants-in-common — has caused significant land loss in Black + low-income families. UPHPA partition reform helps.

If you die in New York without a will, the state's intestate succession law decides who gets what — not you. Spouse takes the first $50,000 plus 1/2 of the remainder; children share the rest.

A revocable living trust avoids probate, maintains privacy, and lets you control how your assets pass at death. Most estates — NY probate is one of the slowest in the country typically benefit most.