We can assist you with the legal process that occurs when a loved one passes away. Our objective is to provide families with high quality and cost-effective trust administration and probate services tailored to each client’s specific needs and goals.

If your loved one died with a will in place, the estate will go through a process called probate. We are experienced in representing families and guiding them through the probate process, from filing the last will and testament with the Surrogate’s Court to obtaining valuations of estate assets to preparing estate tax returns. In addition, we can assist with notifying the beneficiaries under the will and with the distribution of assets.

When there is a living trust in place, among other responsibilities, the trustee must manage assets inside the trust, file tax returns, allocated receipts and disbursements between income and principal, and make distributions to the beneficiaries.

If the decedent did not have a will, we can work with you to petition Surrogate’s Court for letters of administration in order to obtain the authority to collect the estate assets and distribute them in accordance with the New York State laws of intestacy.

Unfortunately, disputes among family members can and do occur during the disposition of an estate. While the process can be highly charged and emotional, we can protect your interests in an inheritance while, at the same time, keeping in mind the emotional nature of the action.