I once worked with a family from Brooklyn whose father had meticulously planned his legacy. He had written down his wishes, named his children as
A client came to us a few months ago with a clear goal. She wanted to place her parents’ Queens home—the house she grew up
When a Manhattan family creates a revocable living trust to protect their assets, they usually walk out of our office holding a heavy, leather-bound binder.
I often meet parents in my Manhattan office who are shocked to learn that the day their child with special needs turns 18, their legal
A building manager in Brooklyn calls a client. Her elderly uncle, who lived alone, has passed away in his apartment. The manager has, correctly, changed
I recently met with a family whose father had passed away in Brooklyn. He had a will, which they believed made everything simple. They were
A few weeks ago, a couple came into my office. They had spent 40 years in their Queens home, raising a family and building a
When a Brooklyn family loses a parent, the weeks that follow are a blur of grief and paperwork. Often, a child sorting through a desk
A client recently came to my Manhattan office with a common family dilemma. Her father’s will named her brother as executor, but he lives in
A family in Brooklyn recently came to my office after their father passed away. He left a detailed will, which they believed made everything simple.
A client from Manhattan sat in my office last month, proud he had set up and funded his revocable living trust. He did the work
I once met with the widow of a successful Brooklyn restaurant owner. Her husband had died suddenly, without a will. He’d always told her, “Don’t
When a Manhattan family loses a parent, the initial shock is rapidly interrupted by a barrage of practical demands. The hospital needs a funeral home
I once met a successful business owner who believed his affairs were in order. He had a family, a thriving company, and a simple will
When a Manhattan family discovers an un-notarized trust document in a deceased parent’s desk, the next nine months belong to Surrogate’s Court. I see this
A couple I worked with for years built a successful business in Manhattan. Their combined assets were north of $10 million. When the husband passed
The envelope arrives from the Kings County Surrogate’s Court. Inside is a formal notice called a “Citation,” summoning family members to appear. For many Brooklyn
Families often ask me, “How much does a trust cost?” The better question is, “What is the cost of inaction?” A family I worked with
A will is signed, witnessed, and tucked away in a safe deposit box in a Manhattan bank. For years, it represents a plan—a clear set
A client’s daughter called me from her late father’s apartment in Manhattan. She was distraught. While sorting through his papers, she found a note with
When a family sits across from my Madison Avenue desk for the first time, they usually bring a manila folder filled with deeds, old life
I often meet with families after a loved one has passed, will in hand, assuming the document itself is a key that unlocks and distributes
When a family walks into our Madison Avenue office following a sudden loss by suicide, the atmosphere is entirely different from a typical estate planning
When a father in Brooklyn co-signs a mortgage for his daughter’s first home, the bank gets exactly what it wants: a second guarantor on the
I recently met with a family whose father had passed away in his Manhattan apartment. He left behind a meticulously drafted will, a sizable brokerage
A client recently came into our Manhattan office with a clear goal. “I have a will,” he said, “so my estate is all taken care
When a Manhattan widow purchases a condominium entirely in her own name, she leaves the closing table feeling absolute financial independence. She does not need
When a Manhattan family names their eldest daughter as successor trustee to save on corporate fees, the immediate assumption is that trust administration will cost
When a Manhattan family discovers their father left no written instructions regarding his final arrangements, the immediate aftermath is rarely peaceful. I have watched siblings
When a parent passes away in Manhattan, their adult children often believe a valid will means a simple, private transfer of assets. It rarely does.
