Getting Started
Whether you need a simple Will, a complex Asset Protection or Business Succession plan, or the probate of a loved one's estate, we've arranged to make it as easy as possible for you to get started. Below you will find a clear guide to our processes:
The Planning Process
- Call Us To Set an Appointment
Please call us at (516) 522-8900 or (212) 242-8300 to schedule an appointment at either of our convenient locations. If you have transportation or scheduling issues, we are happy to meet with you at your home or business, and can arrange for appointments outside of normal business hours. - Complete New Client Information Packet Before Your Appointment
Once your consultation is set, we will send you a new client package by mail. We ask you to fill it out and return it to us, along with copies of any existing estate planning documents you may have, at least 3 days in advance of your consultation. This information will give us an important overview of your current assets and planning, so none of our face-to-face time is wasted and every minute you spend with us will be focused on meeting your needs.
Feel free to call the office at any time if you need assistance completing your packet or have any questions at all. - Free Consultation
The initial consultation has two goals. The first is to get to know each other and ensure that we will feel comfortable working together. Second, we'll analyze your current situation and discuss your plans and goals. By the end of the 30 minute free consultation, we'll have a good sense of what you need, and we'll be able to quote you a fixed, all inclusive fee for the planning and related documents. Our fees are always a flat rate so there will never be a surprise bill in the mail. One half of this fee is due upon beginning the design process, and the remainder due upon delivery of the documents.
If you wish to proceed, we can either extend this initial meeting and begin designing your plan, or schedule another appointment to do so. - Drafting
Over the next 2-3 weeks, we will finalize the details of your plan, research any pertinent legal or tax issues, draft the necessary documents, and handle any other issues that arise. We are always available to answer any questions you have, and are happy to work with your accountant or financial advisors as needed.
For advanced estate, asset protection, and business succession planning cases, this stage often takes longer, and may require additional meetings with you and your other advisors. - Review of Drafts
We will send you drafts of the documents for review. We will work closely with you to ensure the provisions accurately reflect your desires and that they are perfectly clear and understandable to you and your family. - Signing Ceremony
Once you approve the drafts, we'll set up a meeting where you will sign the documents under our supervision, in the presence of witnesses or a notary as required, and with the other formal requirements prescribed by law. If there is additional work to be done at this point (e.g. arranging asset transfers into a trust or changing the deed for real estate) we'll get right to it. - Ongoing Review and Updates
In most law firms, the relationship ends when the documents are signed. This is where our law firm is different. We see signing your planning documents as the beginning of our relationship with your family, not the end.
If your plan is not properly updated over time, your documents become worth no more than the paper they were written on. Laws change, your assets change, your family changes, and your plan will need to change as well. We make sure that happens by communicating with you regularly, reviewing your plan at least every three years (at no additional charge), and keeping you informed of new legal developments as they occur. Our efforts will ensure you make the best possible decisions for your family or business during your lifetime and give you the peace of mind of knowing that we will be here for the people you love most in the event of your incapacity or death.
If you're looking for this personalized level of estate planning, please contact us now to set up a free consultation.
Estate Administration Process
- Call Us To Set An Appointment
Please call us at (516) 522-8900 or (212) 242-8300 to schedule an appointment at either of our convenient locations. If you have transportation or scheduling issues, we are happy to meet with you at your home or business, and can arrange for appointments outside of normal business hours. - Complete Estate Information Packet Before Your Appointment
Once your appointment is set, we will send you a new client package by mail, which we ask you to fill out with information about the deceased and return to us, along with copies of any Will or trusts you may be aware of. We ask for these items at least 3 days in advance of your consultation. This information will give us an important overview of the estate, so none of our face-to-face time is wasted.
Feel free to call the office at any time if you need assistance completing the worksheet or have any questions at all. - Free Consultation
The initial consultation has two goals. The first is to get to know each other and ensure that we will feel comfortable working together. Second, we'll discuss the estate administration process and answer any questions you may have. By the end of the 30 minute free consultation, we'll have a good sense of what will be involved in administering the estate, and we'll be able to quote you a fixed, all inclusive fee for our services. Our fees are always a flat rate so there will never be a surprise bill in the mail.
If you wish to proceed, we request payment of our minimum fee as well as an advance for certain expected expenses (e.g. Surrogate's Court filing fees). You should be prepared to personally advance these funds on behalf of the estate. Shortly after we begin the administration process, a checking account will be set up in the name of the Estate, and you can be reimbursed for this outlay from estate assets. - Administration
Over the following months we will work closely with the executor of the estate to file the necessary court papers, gather and value the deceased's assets, pay creditors of the estate, make distributions to the beneficiaries, and handle any other legal issues that may arise. If the estate is of significant size, we will also handle preparation of any necessary Federal or State Estate Tax Returns.
For a simple estate, this process takes 7 to 9 months. For estates of significant size or with complex assets or strained family relationships, the process can take far longer and require much more effort. Regardless of the time and effort involved, we will be with you every step of the way, providing guidance, answering all of your questions, and making sure you have peace of mind.
If you're looking for this personalized level of service, please contact us now to set up a free consultation.