Westchester County Estate Planning Lawyers
At Gettinger Waldinger Monteleone Gushue & Hollis, LLP, our estate planning attorneys carefully build wills, trusts and estates that align with the financial and personal goals of our clients and their loved ones, with an eye to minimizing taxes.
We use our knowledge and experience in a variety of legal areas to meet the often complex needs of our clients. We bring both business strategy experience and technological awareness to help plan and manage trusts with a high level of quality and efficiency.
How We Can Assist You With Your Estate Planning Needs
We partner with clients as they work through the following issues:
- Preparing wills and trusts
- Estate and gift planning, including tax-related and nontax aspects
- Probate of wills and administration of estates, and resolution of disputes with state and federal taxing authorities
- Planning for incapacity, including living wills, healthcare proxies and powers of attorney
- Administering living trusts and testamentary trusts
- Providing guidance for Medicaid planning and other elder law needs
- Handling guardianship and conservatorship proceedings
In the event of death, our New York estate planning lawyers dedicate themselves to counseling our clients through a difficult time. We understand the inevitable confusing and often complex issues involving death and the process that follows. Our lawyers bring sympathy and experience as we assist each unique family through these important transitions.
Why Estate Planning In Westchester County Matters And Why Many People Put It Off
Estate planning gives you a way to decide how others should handle your property, finances and healthcare if you die or cannot make decisions for yourself. Still, many people delay because the subject feels uncomfortable, they think planning only matters for wealthy families or they are unsure how to begin.
Common reasons for delay include:
- Discomfort with conversations about death or incapacity
- A belief that estate planning is only for people with substantial wealth
- The assumption that planning can wait until later in life
- Uncertainty about which documents to prepare
Waiting can leave important choices outside your control. If you die without a will in New York, state law determines how certain property passes to surviving family members. Your loved ones may also face questions about who should handle your affairs or carry out your wishes. Starting earlier gives you time to make those choices for yourself and update them as your life changes.
Considerations To Know About Estate Planning As A Westchester County Small Business Owner
If you own a business, your estate plan and succession plan should work together. Your ownership interest may represent a large part of your estate, so the plan should address what happens if you die or cannot manage the company.
Important issues to consider include:
- Choosing who should own or manage the business after you
- Reviewing whether a buy-sell agreement addresses death or incapacity
- Planning how the company may fund a transfer of ownership
- Considering whether key person planning may support business continuity
- Confirming that your will or trust matches your current ownership agreements
Existing business documents can affect how an ownership interest transfers. We can coordinate your estate documents with your ownership structure and provide related guidance through our business law practice.
What Estate Planning Documents Are Important To Have?
The documents you need depend on your family, property and goals, but a complete estate plan often uses several documents together. Each serves a different purpose, so your plan should address lifetime decisions and what happens after death.
Common estate planning documents include:
- Last will and testament: States how you want certain property handled after death and allows you to name an executor.
- Revocable living trust: Holds assets under terms you create and can guide their management or distribution.
- Healthcare proxy: Lets you choose someone to make healthcare decisions if you cannot make them yourself.
- Power of attorney: Gives a person you select authority to handle financial or other matters covered by the document.
- Living will: Records your wishes about medical treatment if you cannot communicate them yourself.
These documents work best as one coordinated plan. We can help you decide which ones fit your circumstances and make sure they reflect your current wishes.
Work With Attorneys Who Are Invested In Your Future
Estate planning can be daunting and overwhelming – we get it. That’s why, when you work with us, you can rest easy knowing that you are working with counsel who will take the time to understand what you want out of your estate plan and tell you how you can get it. With our strong knowledge of the law and strategic insights, we can help you prepare for your future and create a legacy that lasts.
Speak With One Of Our Attorneys Today
From offices in Mount Kisco, New York, our lawyers advise and represent clients in communities throughout the Lower Hudson Valley. Contact us to arrange a consultation with an experienced Westchester County estate planning attorney at our firm today.