Trust Attorney in Freeport, NY

Protect Your Assets Before It's Too Late

Stop worrying about nursing home costs wiping out your life savings. Our trust attorneys help Freeport families protect what matters most.

Living Trust Creation Services

Keep Your Family Out of Probate Court

Your family won’t spend months in probate court fighting over your estate. With a properly structured living trust, your assets transfer directly to your beneficiaries without court delays or public records.

You maintain complete control over your assets while you’re alive. You can buy, sell, or change anything you want. But when something happens to you, your successor trustee steps in immediately to handle everything according to your wishes.

No probate means no court fees, no attorney delays, and no public disclosure of your private family business. Your loved ones get what you intended them to have, when they need it most.

Freeport Estate Planning Attorneys

Long Island Families Trust Our Experience

We’ve been protecting Long Island families for years. We understand the unique challenges Freeport residents face, from high property values to limited care options.

Our attorneys know Nassau County’s legal landscape inside and out. We’ve helped hundreds of families navigate Medicaid planning, asset protection, and estate planning. We speak Spanish and Italian, and we’ll come to your home, hospital, or nursing facility when you can’t come to us.

This isn’t about selling you documents. It’s about protecting what you’ve spent your lifetime building. We take time to understand your specific situation because no two families are exactly alike.

Trust Planning Process

Simple Steps to Protect Your Legacy

First, we meet with you to understand your goals, your family situation, and your concerns. We’ll review your assets, discuss your wishes, and explain your options in plain English. This initial consultation is always free.

Next, we design a trust strategy that fits your specific needs. Whether you need a revocable living trust, an irrevocable asset protection trust, or a combination approach, we’ll explain exactly how it works and what it accomplishes.

Finally, we prepare all the legal documents and walk you through the signing process. We’ll help you transfer your assets into the trust and make sure everything is properly funded. You’ll leave with complete peace of mind knowing your family is protected.

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Asset Protection Trust Options

Multiple Trust Types for Different Needs

Revocable living trusts give you complete control while avoiding probate. You can change anything, anytime. But they don’t protect assets from nursing home costs or creditors.

Irrevocable asset protection trusts shield your assets from Medicaid’s five-year lookback period. In Freeport, where the average home is worth over $600,000, this protection is crucial. You can’t change these trusts easily, but they offer powerful asset protection.

Special needs trusts protect disabled beneficiaries without affecting their government benefits. These are essential for Long Island families dealing with special circumstances. We also handle trust administration when you’re named as trustee and need professional guidance managing someone else’s trust.

How much does it cost to set up a trust in Freeport?

Trust costs vary based on your specific situation and needs. A basic revocable living trust typically costs less than what most families spend on a single month of nursing home care. The real question isn’t what a trust costs – it’s what not having one costs your family. Without proper planning, your estate could face probate fees, court costs, and delays that far exceed the cost of setting up a trust properly. We provide transparent pricing during your free consultation. You’ll know exactly what everything costs before you make any decisions. No surprises, no hidden fees.

What's the difference between a will and a living trust?

A will goes through probate court, which takes months and becomes public record. Anyone can look up what you owned and who got what. Your family waits while lawyers and courts sort everything out. A living trust avoids probate completely. Your assets transfer immediately to your beneficiaries without court involvement. Everything stays private, and your family gets what you intended them to have right away. Wills are also easier to contest in court. Trusts are much harder to challenge because they’re more detailed and specific about your intentions. For most Long Island families, trusts provide better protection and faster results.

Can I still control my assets after putting them in a trust?

With a revocable living trust, you maintain complete control. You can buy, sell, refinance, or change anything you want. The trust doesn’t limit your options or require anyone’s permission for your decisions. You typically name yourself as the initial trustee, which means you manage everything exactly like you do now. The only difference is legal ownership – instead of owning assets personally, you own them through the trust. The trust only takes effect if you become incapacitated or pass away. Until then, you have the same control you’ve always had. Your day-to-day life doesn’t change at all.

Will a trust protect my home from nursing home costs?

A revocable living trust won’t protect your home from nursing home costs. Since you maintain control, Medicaid still counts it as your asset. But it will help your family avoid probate when you’re gone. An irrevocable asset protection trust can protect your home from Medicaid’s reach. You give up direct control, but your home stays in your family instead of going to pay for care. This requires careful planning and timing. In Freeport, where homes average over $600,000, this protection can save your family hundreds of thousands of dollars. But these trusts must be set up properly and funded correctly to work. We’ll explain all your options during your consultation.

How long does the trust planning process take?

Most trust planning takes 2-4 weeks from start to finish. We don’t rush the process because getting it right is more important than getting it done quickly. After your initial consultation, we typically need 1-2 weeks to prepare your documents. Then we schedule a signing appointment where we review everything and answer any final questions. The actual signing takes about an hour. Funding the trust – transferring your assets into it – can take additional time depending on what you own. Real estate transfers happen quickly, but some financial accounts take longer. We guide you through each step to make sure nothing gets missed.

Do I need a trust if I'm married?

Married couples often benefit even more from trust planning than single people. You can set up a joint trust that protects both spouses and simplifies everything for your surviving spouse. Without a trust, your surviving spouse might face probate twice – once when you die, and again when they pass away. A properly structured trust eliminates probate both times, saving your family time, money, and stress. Married couples also have more asset protection options. We can structure trusts to maximize both spouses’ Medicaid exemptions and protect more assets from nursing home costs. The strategies available to married couples are often more powerful than what single people can do.

Local Resources

Freeport, NY is located in Nassau County in New York State

Trust Attorney in Freeport, NY

Protect Your Assets Before It's Too Late