NY Estate Lawyer | NY Probate Lawyer | NY Wills, Trusts & Estate Lawyer | NY Surrogate’s Court Lawyer The Law Offices of Michael W. Goldstein representing clients in preparing: •Wills •Trusts •Living Wills and Health Care Proxies •Powers of Attorney Surrogate’s Court Proceedings & Litigation Our experienced NY Estate Lawyer represent clients in Surrogate’s Court proceedings including: •Estate Administration •Estate Probate •Guardianship of Minor Children •Surrogate’s Court Orders Removing Restrictions on Limited Letters of Administration •Court Approval for Wrongful Death Settlements •Will Contests •Surrogate’s Court Litigation Living Will A Living Will states your instructions regarding your medical treatment in the event that you become mentally or physically incapacitated. For example, it may state whether you want to be maintained on life support, even if you are unconscious and there is no possibility of recovering from your illness. It may also state whether you want to live at home or in a hospice during the final stages of a fatal illness, as well as whether you want to donate your organs after death. A Living Will must be executed in conformity with the requirements of New York law. Health Care Proxy A health care proxy designates a trusted relative, friend, etc. to make health care decisions for you. A health care proxy must be executed in conformity with the requirements of New York law. Estate Administration or Estate Probate When a loved one dies, in addition to grieving the tragic loss, the family will need to deal with administering or probating the estate. The Law Offices of Michael W. Goldstein is able to take that burden off your shoulders. If the person who died (“decedent”) had a valid Last Will and Testament (“Will”), and owned assets in the decedent’s name without a co-owner or designated beneficiary, the estate will need to be probated in the New York Surrogate’s Court in the county where the decedent resided. If the decedent died intestate (without a valid Last Will and Testament), and owned assets in the decedent’s name without a co-owner or designated beneficiary, the estate will need to be administered in the New York Surrogate’s Court in the county where the decedent resided. Ancillary Probate or Ancillary Administration If the person who died was a primary resident of New York State, and owned property in both New York and in another state, it may be necessary to probate or administer the estate in New York, and also to file an ancillary probate or ancillary administration proceeding in the other state. Similarly, if the person who died was a primary resident of another state, and owned property in both New York and in that other state, it may be necessary to probate or administer the estate in the state of the decedent’s primary residence, and also to file an ancillary probate or ancillary administration proceeding in New York. Specific Requirements for the Execution of a New York Will New York State law contains specific requirements for the execution of a New York Will. These requirements include specific formalities for how the Will is executed in the presence of the witnesses, the number of witnesses required, and requirements for Witnesses’ Affidavits, The requirements for the execution of a New York Will serve several purposes, including safeguarding the rights of the testator to sign a Will that expresses his or her instructions regarding the distribution of the testator’s assets after his or her death. The New York formalities for the execution of a Will assist in preventing fraud by a beneficiary under a Will executed under physical or emotional duress, or while the testator is not mentally capable of expressing his or her true intentions. Contact Us We invite you to complete our Wills, Trusts & Estates Questionnaire, or click Contact Us, or call us to discuss how our office can assist you with the preparation of a Will, Trust, Living Will, Health Care Proxy, or Power of Attorney, or with an estate probate, estate administration, or Will contest. New York Wills, Trusts & Estates Lawyer Disclaimer Visiting our website, submitting any information via questionnaire or email, or discussing your case with us does not create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship with our law firm can only be established with the signing of a written retainer agreement prepared by our law firm. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future case or legal matter. This website is not intended to solicit clients for preparation of a Will, Trust, Living Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney outside of New York State, or for the probate or administration of an estate outside of New York State, or for a will contest outside of New York State. The information in this website is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor to create an attorney-client relationship or lawyer-client relationship. We recommend that you discuss your New York will, trust, living will, health care proxy, power of attorney, estate probate, estate administration, or will contest with a New York Wills, Trusts and Estates lawyer promptly. Michael W. Goldstein is a New York Wills, Trusts and Estates Lawyer representing clients in Wills, Trusts, Estate Probate, Estate Administration, Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, Powers of Attorney, and Will Contests. New York Wills, Trusts and Estates Lawyer representing clients in New York City, Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County, Rockland County and upstate New York. Law Offices of Michael W. Goldstein NY Estate Lawyer New York Probate Lawyer New York Wills, Trusts & Estate Lawyer New York Surrogate’s Court Lawyer 299 Broadway Suite 800 New York, New York 10007 Phone:(212) 571-6848 Attorney Advertising