Lake Success (Nassau County) firm guiding executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries through New York Surrogate's Court — probate, estate and trust administration, and contested estates and objections to a will or to fiduciary conduct. Also handles estate planning, retirement-distribution planning, Medicaid and elder law. Absorbed the Berwitz & DiTata estate practice.

Since 2000Serves 9 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+4

Staten Island (Richmond County) firm with eight offices across the New York City metro area, from Wall Street to Melville. Brings the probate proceeding in the Surrogate's Court of the decedent's own county - Manhattan, Westchester, Long Island, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn or Staten Island - to get the named executor appointed and secure Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, then marshals the estate assets and distributes them to the beneficiaries. Also handles will contests and estate litigation, elder law, Medicaid and nursing-home planning, guardianships and special-needs planning; initial consultations are free.

Serves 8 countiesFree consultationVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder LawGuardianship+3

Bronx firm on East Tremont Avenue with an appointment-only New Rochelle office, serving Bronx, Westchester, Manhattan and Queens families since 1989. Walks executors and administrators through filing the will and petition with the Surrogate's Court, getting appointed, notifying heirs, beneficiaries and creditors, collecting and valuing assets, paying debts, taxes and expenses, and distributing what remains. Also takes contested probate - will contests, undue-influence claims, disputes over asset ownership and challenges to executor authority - plus trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and Medicaid and special-needs planning. Consultations are free and the firm practices in Spanish.

Since 1989Serves 4 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationElder Law+6

White Plains elder law and estate firm with a second office in Somers, serving the greater Westchester County area through the Surrogate's Court. Files the will and petitions for letters testamentary, values estate assets, notifies beneficiaries, works with the family accountant on estate tax returns and distributes the estate; where there is no will, petitions for letters of administration instead. Nine attorneys, and its guardianship practice covers Article 81 guardianship of an incapacitated adult as well as 17-A special needs guardianships.

Since 2004Serves 1 countyEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax PlanningGuardianship+2

Pleasantville firm serving Westchester and Putnam families through probate and estate administration, with an appointment-only Mahopac office. Reviews the will, trust, deeds and beneficiary forms, files with the correct Surrogate's Court to have an executor or administrator appointed, identifies assets and notifies creditors, sells the decedent's home, and prepares the final accounting that closes the estate. Also files Article 81 guardianship petitions, including emergency applications.

Since 1993Serves 2 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawGuardianship+3

Wappingers Falls (Dutchess County) solo with Westchester offices in Yorktown Heights and Mt Kisco, appearing in the Dutchess County Surrogate's Court. Represents executors and court-appointed administrators from the petition through inventory, creditor notice, and final accounting, keeps out-of-state executors from having to travel, and defends the estate when heirs dispute the will. Also handles Article 81 guardianships, trust administration, Medicaid and special-needs trusts, asset protection, and nursing-home planning, and makes house calls.

Solo PracticeSince 2004Serves 3 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationElder Law+4