Estate Planning / Probate

New York Lawyer – Long Island – Suffolk County
Wills • Trusts • Estates • Guardianships • Probate

Even though estate planning and probate are two fairly direct and uncomplicated legal areas, many people dread making decisions involving either. Underlying confusions, such as when a will or trust becomes necessary and whether to draft a will or devise a trust, sometimes make estate planning seem difficult. For most people, the right time to do estate planning is when you get married or divorced or have children and when you own property or want to ensure something is passed on to a particular person after you die. As to whether a will or a trust is more to your advantage, discussing your situation with a lawyer experienced in estate planning can provide you with answers and allow you to make an informed decision. An estate-planning lawyer can fill in missing information and offer explanations that simplify the process.

Seeking legal advice in estate planning helps you plan for your family’s future, minimize money loss through taxation, take precautions in the event of unexpected death, safeguard assets for retirement, and carry out your wishes regarding inheritance. Through the use of living wills, advance directives for health care, durable power of attorney and other legal devices, you can provide your family with financial and medical guidelines to follow should you ever be rendered unconscious or otherwise unable manage your own affairs.

Wills

A will is a legal document that expresses how a person wishes his or her estate to be managed and distributed after death. Because the court will examine a will during probate to determine validity, it is wise to have an estate-planning attorney draft the will or review it for legal soundness. A will also may cover assets not included in a trust.

Trusts

Many different types of trusts exist, serving a variety of purposes. A common advantage in devising a trust is to avoid probate, which can be costly and lengthy. By discussing your finances and other details regarding your estate, a lawyer can help you decide if a trust would benefit you and, if so, what type of trust best suits your objectives.

Guardianships

In the event that both parents die unexpectedly, legal plans for guardianships make certain that provisions for children are in place by outlining financial guidelines and appointing guardians to oversee their care and affairs.

In New York, guardianships also are used to care for the needs of a person who has been determined incapacitated. The elderly who suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia or are physically debilitated, along with people who are severely handicapped, mentally retarded or mentally ill, might require a guardianship to manage their affairs.

Probate/Estate Administration

Our law firm provides legal advice and representation to estate administrators, executors and beneficiaries during probate administration of an estate. We file all necessary documentation; manage valuation of assets, payment of taxes and creditors; and handle the distribution of assets to beneficiaries. We provide representation in contested wills to ensure the estate is passed on according to the deceased’s wishes. Our firm also manages trust administration on behalf of our clients.

At the Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C., we are not only sensitive to your issues and concerns but also dedicated to providing you with excellent legal advice and strong representation in probate and estate planning.

If you would like to discuss probate or estate planning, please contact us at 631-738-6761 to arrange a consultation.

The Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel in Ronkonkoma, New York focuses on the practice areas of Criminal Law, Family Law, Divorce and Estate Planning & Probate.

We serve Suffolk County and the local communities of Ronkonkoma, Riverhead, Bayshore, Islip, Holtsville, Stony Brook and Babylon. Contact a skilled Suffolk County Estate Planning & Probate Lawyer