Probate and Estate Administration
Navigating the probate and estate administration process can be a challenging experience during an already difficult time. Our law firm provides experienced, compassionate guidance through all aspects of probate and estate administration. Whether you are an executor needing help with estate distribution or a beneficiary seeking to understand your rights, our attorneys are here to support you. We handle the probate of your Will in Surrogate’s Court, Will validations, asset distribution, estate taxes, and disputes with both empathy and efficiency. Our goal is to simplify the legal process for our clients while ensuring that the decedent’s wishes are honored and legal obligations are met.
Probate Administration
Probate administration is the process by which a decedent's estate is managed and distributed under the supervision of a court when there is a valid Will. This includes validating the Will, inventorying the decedent's assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries as directed by the Will. Our law firm provides comprehensive legal services to guide executors through each step of the probate process, ensuring that all legal, tax, and administrative duties are fulfilled efficiently and correctly.
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The probate process involves the management and distribution of the estate as per the Will.
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Our attorneys will support executors with legal and administrative duties during probate.
Probate without a Will (Intestacy)
When a person dies without a Will, also known as being intestate, their estate undergoes an administration process where the court appoints a legal heir or other qualified person to act as an administrator to manage and distribute the estate according to state intestacy laws. This process can be complex, involving strict adherence to legal standards and ensuring fair distribution to legal heirs. Our firm assists administrators in handling all aspects of estate administration, from securing assets to final distribution, ensuring compliance with the law and easing the administrative burden.
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We help oversee estate distribution according to state laws in the absence of a Will.
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We can provide legal guidance and support to appointed administrators.
Trust Administration
Trust administration involves managing and distributing the assets held in a trust according to the trust documents and relevant laws. This process does not require court supervision but demands a high level of diligence and understanding of fiduciary duties. Our firm assists trustees in understanding their roles, managing trust assets, resolving disputes among beneficiaries, and ensuring that the trust operates smoothly and in accordance with the grantor's intentions.
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We help manage trust assets and distribution as per trust documents.
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We advise trustees on their fiduciary duties and trust operations, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws.
Trustee/Fiduciary Assistance
Trustees and other fiduciaries hold significant responsibilities, including managing assets, making investment decisions, and acting in the best interest of the beneficiaries or the principal upon whom they are serving as agent. Mistakes or mismanagement can lead to disputes or legal actions. Our law firm provides legal advice and assistance to trustees and fiduciaries, for example an agent under a durable power of attorney, to ensure that they fulfill their duties effectively and legally, protecting them from liability and ensuring the trust’s purposes are fulfilled, or that they are acting in the best interest of the person upon whom they are serving.
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We help support trustees and fiduciaries in managing their duties and responsibilities.
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We can help protect fiduciaries from legal disputes and ensure effective trust management, and/or asset management.
CONTACT
Let’s Work Together
Staten Island Office:
900 South Ave., 3rd Floor, Staten Island, NY 10314
By appointment only.
Home visits, when needed, and appointments available in Manhattan, as requested.
Tel: 718-448-6655