Wills, Trusts & Estates

Clients needing estate planning for the first time, needing a review of existing estate planning documents, wishing to discuss execution of a will, establishment of a trust, execution of a Power of Attorney or execution of a Health Care Proxy, involved in the probate of a will or the administration of an estate or trust, and needing to discuss an aspect of elder law or involved in selling or buying real estate.

• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights

• Estate Taxes & Gift Taxes
• Income Taxes
• Power of Attorney
• Property Taxes
• Tax Planning

• Drafting Trusts
• Drafting Wills
• Estate Administration
• Estate Planning
• Living Trusts
• Living Wills
• Probate
• Asset Protection
• Power of Attorney
• Special Needs Trust
• Supplemental Needs Trust
• Revocable Trust & Irrevocable Trust

NY, Feb 1975
Bar Number: 1538750

All New York Courts of General Jurisdiction.

American Bar Association (Member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section), New York Bar Association (Member of the Trusts and Estates, Elder Law and Real Property Sections), Women's Bar Association of the State of New York, Orange County Bar Association, Member, Board Member and Past President of the Hudson Valley Estate Planning Council. I have been designated as an Accredited Estate Planner by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils.

I attend Continuing Legal Education programs which provide me with about twice the number of hours that are required by New York State. Mostly, the programs I attend are conducted by the New York State Bar Association which brings together expert speakers who provide the latest information in the areas of the law in which I practice. Also, I attend Continuing Legal Education programs sponsored by local bar associations and others.

While publication of articles on legal topics is not a large focus of my practice, I contributed to the materials for two programs, "Administration of the Estate in New York" and "How to Draft Wills and Trusts in New York," on which I served as a faculty member for the National Business Institute, Inc. In addition, I published an article on certain real estate topics in the Senior Gazette.

A. The type of cases I handle include the situation where I meet with the designated executor of a will to gather information, prepare and attend to the execution of probate proceeding documents, obtain consent from all interested parties, file the documents in the surrogate court in the county where the decedent resided and obtain letters testamentary which allow the executor to conduct estate business and proceed to handle all estate businesses, including preparation of estate tax returns and final accountings.
B. An example of a surrogate court case I handled was where two parties claimed that they should be the person appointed as the estate representative to handle some delicate family property matters. The case involved an interpretation of New York's Anti-Lapse Statute. After research, several court appearances, preparation and submission of a Memorandum of Law in support of my arguments and oral argument in court, the surrogate found in my favor and appointed my client as estate representative.

2

New York

Our firm is committed to provide personal service to clients in the areas of wills, trusts, and other estate planning as well as handling administration of estates and trusts. We advise clients concerning elder law issues and represent clients who are selling or buying real estate.

Our firm was established in August of 2006. The two principals had many years of experience in several areas of the law. After extensive discussions about how we hoped to be able to practice, we came together with the goal of providing high quality legal services in a caring and efficient manner to those who need help in our areas of expertise. We had developed many ideas about how to provide services in a personal and friendly manner and were anxious to put those ideas into practice.

I started with a firm in the summer of 1974 and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1975. Over the years I gained experience and developed expertise in many areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration and real estate matters. I became a partner in the firm and continued as such until leaving to establish this firm in 2006. I was able to continue my study of the law and put my knowledge to use while working with clients on their particular matters. Handling a large number of estate, trust and real estate matters gave me an opportunity to resolve legal issues involving many fact patterns. Such experience has proved helpful in working on subsequent matters.

I received the Orange County Bar Association annual Award for Outstanding Service and Dedication to the Bar and the Citizens of Orange County on May 7, 2009. I have served on the boards of several community organizations such as St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and many others. In several instances I have served as president or chairman of the board.

Paralegal - Ms. Kelley Kiernan

(845) 561-5651

Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Otherwise by appointment.

Yes

The fee for a conference resulting in preparation of drafts of a straightforward will, a durable general power of attorney and a healthcare proxy, discussions of the drafts with client and attendance to execution of the documents would be $500. If husband and wife executed similar documents, the total fee would be $750. Instruments which require extensive and complicated drafting would cost more based on additional time spent. The drafting of trusts and other estate planning instruments, discussions of other estate planning issues with a client and representation of a client who is selling or buying real estate would be billed based on the time spent.

My hourly rate is $250. I bill based on quarter hour increments.

No free initial consultation.

Normally, I do not take a retainer in advance. As a matter progresses and I learn the facts of the case and what will be involved, the client and I come to a mutually agreeable fee arrangement. In New York, if a matter is expected to cost more than $3,000, a retainer agreement is required.