New York City Estate Planning Attorney

Protect Beneficiaries

Estate planning establishes legal directives to manage inheritances for families – including minors and special needs individuals – to safeguard their financial needs.

Avoid Costly Mistakes

The legal process of estate planning involves many moving parts. A professional estate planning attorney makes sure there are no errors that could lead to disputes, unintended asset allocations, or invalid wills.

Get Complete Peace of Mind

Working with a professional provides a safety net that your estate is well-planned and legally sound, so your loved ones are protected, no matter what.

Guardianship

We help you transfer legal authority to another party to make decisions on behalf of minors, disabled individuals, and elderly family members if you are no longer able to.

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Medicaid Planning

Our firm helps individuals and their families navigate Medicaid’s complicated rules to qualify for benefits – while keeping assets protected.

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Power of Attorney

We provide comprehensive support to help you develop a plan that grants legal control to another party for personal and financial decisions.

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Probate

Our attorneys work closely with families to guide them through the complex process of legally transferring an estate after the death of a loved one – from end to end.

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Trusts

We provide compassionate legal counsel to protect your legacy and guarantee financial stability to your loved ones in the future.

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Wills

The team at the Law Offices of Vlad Portnoy drafts comprehensive legal documents outlining exactly how your assets will be distributed to beneficiaries.

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Consultation

The first step involves a friendly meeting with a New York estate planning attorney to understand your goals, family needs, financial situation, and other concerns.

Asset & Beneficiary Assessment

We’ll conduct a detailed examination of your assets – including bank accounts, investments, real estate, business interests, and more to determine the next steps.

Develop Estate Plan

Once we have all the information we need, an experienced estate planning attorney will build a comprehensive strategy to minimize your taxes, avoid probate, and simplify asset distribution.

Draft Legal Documents

As soon as you approve the plan, we’ll begin drafting all essential documents – including wills, trusts, power of attorney, and healthcare directives.

Final Reviews & Revisions

All documents are organized and presented to you for review. We’ll guide you through each line to make sure everything is crystal clear.

Administrative Assistance (As Needed)

We recommend reviewing your estate plan every couple of years or after a major life event (marriage, childbirth, financial change, etc.) to make any necessary updates.

Clear, Reasonable Pricing

We are 100% upfront about our fees – no hidden costs or surprise upcharges.

Compassionate Legal Support

Estate planning can be an emotional process. Our team works with empathy to make sure all your wishes are honored.

“No Stone Left Unturned” Mindset

Planning an estate involves many different variables. We take every last detail into account so you have complete peace of mind.

Fast Responses

If you have any questions or concerns, we respond to your calls and messages in 24-48 hours or less.

Is it a good idea to do estate planning?

Absolutely. Developing an estate plan is essential to making sure all your assets are fairly distributed per your wishes. The process accounts for a wide range of legal plans, including guardianship for minors, healthcare directives, and more to avoid unnecessary court involvement. Additionally, working with a professional estate planning firm helps you minimize your tax responsibility, protect your family’s interests, and avoid legal complications.

At what age do most people do estate planning?

This number can vary, but most people start thinking about estate planning in their 30s and 40s, generally after having children. We advise that you develop a basic estate plan once you become financially independent. This plan can be updated as your life situation changes.

What happens if you don’t do estate planning?

If there is no estate plan in place, asset distribution is generally determined by state laws and the court system – which may be against your wishes/family’s best interests. It’s common that these situations result in probate delays, disputes among families, and financial hardship.

What is the 5 by 5 rule in estate planning?

The 5 by 5 rule allows a beneficiary to withdraw up to 5 percent of the trust’s value or $5,500 per year, whichever is greater. This rule helps beneficiaries avoid negative tax or legal implications while providing flexibility and preserving core assets.

What is the best estate plan?

There is no single “best” estate plan, as it can vary based on the family’s financial needs. Generally, estate plans include wills, trusts, power of attorney, healthcare directives, and designations for beneficiaries. A good plan is designed by a professional estate attorney to minimize taxes, avoid probate, and manage asset distribution as smoothly as possible.

What is the difference between probate and estate planning?

The easiest way to think about estate planning is that it’s a proactive process to arrange asset distribution and legal protections. Probate is a court-supervised process to settle an estate AFTER someone passes away. Estate planning (ideally) avoids probate to save families time, stress, and legal costs.