Long Island Wills Lawyers

Helping Families Prepare Throughout New York

Planning for your own death may seem morbid, but creating a will is incredibly important for your surviving family members. Without a will, it will be up to a court to distribute your estate’s assets. While judges do their best to allocate possessions to close relatives, it is far preferable to have complete control over who gets what. If you have a child, you must also have a will in place to assign them a guardian.

Contact our law firm for excellent counsel in developing your last will and testament. We have helped countless clients avoid devastating family issues by drafting legally sound estate documents. This can prevent a family dispute, help your family avoid probate, and protect your wealth from being distributed in a manner other than how you would choose.

Reach out to our talented legal team today for a consultation to see how we can help you. Call (516) 253-1366 right away for more information.

What Does a Will Do?

In the state of New York, a will serves many functions. Firstly, it names important people who will assist in the execution of your estate.

A will designates important individuals, including:

• Executor – The person named executor in your will carries out your instructions and should be someone you trust implicitly.
• Guardian for minor children – A will also designates a guardian for your surviving children who are still minors.
• Power of attorney – In a living will, you could also name someone to make crucial decisions should you become incapacitated.

Another critical function of a will is to list each beneficiary of your estate. This can include adult children, grandchildren, your spouse, parents, and other loved ones. It is important to note that, without a will, the surrogate’s court in New York cannot distribute funds to anyone other than close family members. This means beloved friends and distant relations would receive nothing. Having a will ensures your assets go to the people you care about most.

What Happens to an Estate if a Person Dies Without a Will?

Dying intestate, or without a will, can create significant problems for your loved ones. For one thing, your estate will go through probate. During this process, your family members will have to wait on the court to divide the inheritance you left behind. Probate, or surrogate’s court as it is known in New York, can be expensive and time-consuming. It also results in a lack of privacy as your assets become public knowledge.

During probate, a judge assigns your assets to family members according to state regulations. This means that your favorite charities or close friends may receive nothing from your estate.

Don’t leave such important matters up to chance. Take the simple action today of reaching out to a trusted wills lawyer who will help you develop the right estate plan for you and your loved ones. Call Davidov Law Group right away to learn how we can help!

Do You Need an Attorney to Create a Will?

When creating a will, you need an experienced wills attorney to ensure the document is legally sound. We know of many families who went with an inexperienced attorney and did not get the protection they thought they had through their will. A skilled wills attorney can help gather the proper legal documents and develop the best will for your unique situation. They will also help manage your estate plan, as families are constantly going through changes, such as the birth or death of a family member, marriage, and divorce.

Some common wills that our clients may use are:

• Simple will – Simple wills cover the basic needs of a will and are easy to create.
• Testamentary trust will – In these wills, a trust is created by the will. The trust can indicate more specifically how and when your estate is to be divided.
• Joint will – Also known as a mutual will, a joint will is entered into by both spouses and gives control to the surviving spouse when one spouse dies.

Should You Hire Our Wills Attorneys?

Wills are essential to most estate plans, especially if you have minor children. They allow you to name critical people in the execution of your estate, including a guardian for your minor children. This is something a trust cannot do.

If you need help creating a will or deciding what kind of estate plan documents are best for you, please get in touch with our talented wills lawyers right away. We will listen carefully to your goals and develop an estate plan to help you achieve your family’s financial dreams. We understand that every family is unique and that situations are constantly changing. We will stand by your side and help you develop an estate plan to protect your hard-earned wealth and secure a comfortable future for your loved ones.

Don’t hesitate any longer to take the essential steps of beginning an estate plan. Call our law firm today to schedule a consultation at (516) 253-1366.