Wills, Estates & Probate
Estate, Probate, Trust, & Will Attorney
Serving Hamburg, Orchard Park, West Seneca, & Evans, NY
As a wills and trusts attorney at law serving Evans, Hamburg, West Seneca, & Orchard Park, NY, my purpose is to help your voice be heard. I take great pride in preparing wills, planning estates, and guiding families through the probate process. Perhaps you find yourself in a situation where you need to contest a will, or you want to ensure that your assets are divided according to your wishes and not the will of the court. Maybe a loved one recently passed away, and you need help settling their affairs. Come to me in these cases for my experience in protecting your rights. I can also help with the preparation of trusts to help secure funding to care for underage children or any disabled adults in your care. I look forward to serving as your estate, probate, trust, and will attorney.
Why You Should Hire a Will Attorney
Everyone needs a comprehensive estate plan. No matter your age or health, an estate plan ensures that your assets will be distributed in the way you want. An estate plan is a set of legal documents to prepare for your death or disability, and a will is one of the necessary legal documents included in your estate plan. As the bedrock document of every estate plan, a will is more complicated than other documents.
As a Hamburg-area trust and will attorney, my aim when drafting your thorough estate plan is to alleviate stress - yours and your family’s. I can help you create your will as well as draft other legal documents as a part of your estate plan, ensuring every facet of your plan is legally sound and valid. When it comes to wills, one wrong word or one missing signature can change the entire intent of the document.
I’m an experienced attorney, so I can draft and revise your will as needed as well as be a voice of reason and unbiased advice if you need it.
What to Consider When Drafting Your Estate Plan
When drafting your estate plan, there are many things you'll want to consider. Your decisions will depend on your unique circumstances, family situation, and assets; however, most estate plans include the following provisions:
Decision Makers: Should you become ill or incapacitated, it's important to designate someone to make decisions on your behalf if you cannot. These designations will include a durable power of attorney to make medical and financial decisions for you; this person can be a spouse, a family member, or a trusted friend or relative. No matter who you decide to designate, it's important that it be someone you trust and who knows your wishes.
Long-Term Care: As our lifespans increase, more and more of us will require long-term care at some point. It's important to make plans and decisions in advance in case something unexpected happens. I can help you think through every possibility as you make your plans.
Beneficiaries: A beneficiary is someone you designate to receive all or some of your assets upon your death. You can name whomever you want as a beneficiary; usually, spouses choose to name each other, though it is not required. However, in New York State, your spouse might be entitled to contest your will if you choose to leave them a smaller portion of your estate. I can help you navigate your options.
How a Probate Attorney Can Help
“Probate” is the legal process governing how a deceased person’s affairs are settled. As part of the probate process, the decedent’s will (if they left one) is validated; their debts are settled; final taxes are paid (if any are owed); and the decedent’s assets are distributed to their heirs or beneficiaries. Depending on the circumstances, probate can be relatively straightforward or very complicated. However, no matter how complex the circumstances are, probate is still an intense legal and bureaucratic process.
If you recently lost a loved one or are serving as the executor of an estate, it can help to have a lawyer by your side for the probate process. That is where I can come in. I proudly help families throughout Hamburg, West Seneca, and Orchard Park through probate. I understand that you’re dealing with grief while navigating an unfamiliar and often intimidating legal process. I can explain what you need to do and help you through the various proceedings so you can get the estate settled as quickly as possible.
Losing a loved one is difficult enough. You don’t need to go through probate alone. Let me help so you can focus on supporting your family and loved ones through this difficult time.
Get Your Affairs in Order With Help From a Probate, Will & Trusts Attorney
Navigating the complexities of wills, trusts, and the probate process can be overwhelming. I am ready to help answer your questions and guide you through the process. By enlisting a professional estate attorney to help get this documentation in order ahead of time, you will be saving your family a lot of stress and headaches during a very difficult time. This proactive approach ensures that your loved ones are well taken care of according to your wishes. Additionally, if you find yourself needing support after a loved one has passed, I am also a probate attorney and am happy to help your family through the probate process. Schedule an appointment to discuss your wills, trusts, estate, and probate needs by calling our friendly representatives. We proudly offer legal services to the Evans, Hamburg, Orchard Park, and West Seneca, NY areas.
