Wills Attorney in Islandia, NY

Protect Your Family's Future Today

Your family deserves clarity, not confusion, when you’re gone—get the legal protection that ensures your wishes are honored.

Legal Will Preparation Services

What Life Looks Like Protected

Your assets go exactly where you intended. Your children have the guardians you chose. Your family avoids months of court battles and legal fees.

That’s what happens when you have a properly drafted will. No guessing games about your wishes. No state-mandated distribution formulas. No family members fighting over what you “would have wanted.”

Instead, your executor—someone you trust—handles everything according to your clear instructions. Your home stays protected. Your legacy remains intact.

Islandia Estate Planning Attorneys

Local Knowledge, Personal Service

We’ve been serving Long Island families since 2012, understanding the unique challenges facing Islandia residents. We know that many of our neighbors are house-rich but cash-poor, wanting to stay close to excellent healthcare while protecting their most valuable asset—their home.

We’re not a large, impersonal firm. We’re a small practice that takes time to understand your specific situation. Our bilingual team speaks Spanish and Italian, and we’ll meet you at your home, hospital, or nursing facility when needed.

Every initial consultation is free because we believe everyone deserves access to proper legal guidance, regardless of their financial situation.

Will Drafting Process

Simple Steps, Lasting Protection

First, we sit down and discuss your family, your assets, and your goals. We’ll ask about your children, your property, and who you trust to handle your affairs. This isn’t a sales pitch—it’s a conversation about what matters most to you.

Next, we draft your will according to New York State requirements. We make sure it’s properly witnessed and executed so it holds up in court. We also discuss related documents like power of attorney and healthcare proxies.

Finally, we review everything with you in plain language. You’ll understand exactly what each provision means and how it protects your family. We keep the original in our secure files and provide you with copies.

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Comprehensive Will Services

Everything Your Family Needs

Your will includes asset distribution instructions, executor designation, and guardianship provisions for minor children. We also address specific Long Island considerations like protecting your home from Medicaid recovery and minimizing estate taxes.

For Islandia families, this often means creating strategies that allow you to stay in your home while protecting it for your heirs. We understand local property values and can structure your estate plan accordingly.

We also coordinate with your other estate planning documents, ensuring your will works seamlessly with any trusts, powers of attorney, or healthcare directives you may need.

What happens if I die without a will in New York?

New York’s intestacy laws will determine who gets your assets, and it’s probably not what you’d expect. Your spouse doesn’t automatically inherit everything—they get the first $50,000 plus half of the remainder, with the rest going to your children. If you’re unmarried, your parents inherit your estate if you have no children. An unmarried partner gets nothing. Stepchildren only inherit if you legally adopted them. This rigid formula doesn’t account for your family’s actual needs or your personal wishes. It’s why having a will is essential, regardless of your age or wealth level.

How do I choose the right executor for my will?

Choose someone you trust completely who’s organized, responsible, and willing to serve. This person will handle your final affairs, pay your debts, and distribute your assets according to your will. Consider practical factors too. They should live relatively close to New York, be financially stable, and get along reasonably well with your beneficiaries. Some people choose adult children, while others prefer trusted friends or professional executors. You can name a backup executor in case your first choice can’t serve. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of different options based on your specific family situation.

Can my family contest my will after I'm gone?

Yes, but successful will contests are rare. Someone can only challenge your will if they have legal standing—meaning they would inherit more if the will didn’t exist or under a previous will. The grounds for contesting are limited: improper execution, lack of mental capacity, fraud, undue influence, or duress. That’s why we follow strict procedures when drafting and witnessing your will. We can also include specific language to discourage frivolous challenges and explain your reasoning for certain decisions. Proper planning and execution make contests much less likely to succeed.

Do I need a lawyer to write my will?

While you can technically write your own will, it’s risky. New York has specific requirements for valid wills, and simple mistakes can invalidate the entire document. Then your family gets nothing according to your wishes. DIY wills often miss important considerations like tax implications, asset protection strategies, and coordination with other estate planning documents. They also frequently contain ambiguous language that leads to family disputes. A properly drafted will by an experienced attorney costs far less than the problems a flawed will creates. We’ve seen too many families suffer because someone tried to save money on legal fees.

How often should I update my will?

Review your will every three to five years or after major life changes. Marriage, divorce, births, deaths, significant asset changes, or moves to different states all warrant updates. Don’t just write on your existing will—this can invalidate it. Use a formal codicil for minor changes or create a new will for major revisions. Both require the same witnessing procedures as your original will. We recommend scheduling periodic reviews with your attorney to ensure your will still reflects your current situation and wishes. Life changes, and your will should change with it.

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

A will takes effect when you die and goes through probate court. A trust can be active during your lifetime and often avoids probate entirely. Both serve different purposes in estate planning. Wills are simpler and less expensive to create, making them perfect for straightforward asset distribution. Trusts offer more control over when and how beneficiaries receive assets, plus additional privacy and tax benefits. Many people use both—a will for basic asset distribution and guardian designation, plus trusts for specific goals like protecting assets from creditors or providing for special needs family members. We’ll help you determine what combination works best for your situation.

Local Resources

Islandia, NY is located in Suffolk County in New York State

Wills Attorney in Islandia, NY

Protect Your Family's Future Today