Estate Planning Attorney in Bethpage, NY

Protect Your Family's Future Today

Comprehensive estate planning services designed to secure your assets and give your loved ones peace of mind during life’s most important transitions.

Comprehensive Estate Planning Services

Your Family Deserves Real Protection

When you work with an experienced estate planning attorney, you’re not just drafting documents—you’re creating a roadmap that protects everything you’ve built. Your family will know exactly what to do when the time comes, without the stress of guessing your wishes or navigating complex legal processes alone.

Proper estate planning means your assets go where you want them to go, when you want them to go there, with minimal taxes and legal complications. It means your children are cared for by people you trust, your healthcare decisions are respected, and your family can focus on grieving and healing instead of fighting over details you could have clarified.

Without a solid plan, your family faces months or years of probate court, potential family disputes, and unnecessary expenses that could have been avoided. That’s not the legacy you want to leave behind.

Bethpage Estate Planning Law Firm

Local Expertise You Can Trust

We have been serving Long Island families for over a decade, with deep roots in the Bethpage community. We understand the unique challenges facing homeowners in Nassau County—from protecting valuable real estate assets to navigating New York’s complex Medicaid system.

Our approach is different. We don’t rush you through cookie-cutter documents. Instead, we take time to understand your family’s specific situation, your concerns about aging parents, your worries about your children’s future, and your goals for the wealth you’ve worked so hard to build.

We’ve seen too many families torn apart by poor planning or no planning at all. That’s why we offer bilingual services and meet clients wherever they’re most comfortable—at our office, your home, or even at the hospital or nursing home when circumstances require it.

Estate Planning Process Bethpage

Clear Steps, No Surprises

Your estate planning process begins with a free consultation where we discuss your family situation, assets, and concerns. We’ll explain your options in plain English and help you understand what documents you need and why.

Once you decide to move forward, we’ll schedule a comprehensive planning meeting to dive deeper into your specific needs. We’ll discuss everything from who should make healthcare decisions if you can’t, to how to minimize taxes on your estate, to protecting your assets if you need long-term care.

After we draft your documents, we’ll review everything with you line by line to make sure it reflects your wishes exactly. We’ll also provide guidance on how to properly fund your trusts and ensure your beneficiary designations are up to date. Most importantly, we’ll be here for updates as your life changes—because good estate planning isn’t a one-time event.

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Bethpage Wills and Trusts

Complete Protection for Long Island Families

Living on Long Island means dealing with some of the highest property values in the country. Bethpage homes averaging over $750,000 require sophisticated planning to protect that wealth from taxes and potential creditors. We help families structure their estates to take advantage of New York’s specific laws while avoiding common pitfalls.

Our estate planning services include comprehensive wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and Medicaid planning. We also handle the often-overlooked details like updating beneficiary designations and ensuring your digital assets are properly addressed.

For Bethpage families, we pay special attention to protecting the family home—often your largest asset. We’ll show you strategies to keep your house in the family while protecting it from nursing home costs, and we’ll help you understand how recent changes in New York law affect your planning options. We’ve also seen an increase in deed theft targeting Long Island homeowners, so we make sure your property is properly protected through your estate plan.

How much does estate planning cost in Bethpage, NY?

Estate planning costs vary based on your specific needs and the complexity of your situation. A basic will might cost a few hundred dollars, while comprehensive estate planning with trusts and advanced tax strategies typically ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 or more. However, the cost of not having proper estate planning is often much higher. Without a will, your family faces probate costs that can easily exceed $10,000, plus months or years of legal proceedings. If you need long-term care without proper Medicaid planning, you could lose your entire life savings—potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars for Long Island families. We offer free initial consultations to discuss your needs and provide transparent pricing upfront. Most families find that proper estate planning pays for itself many times over through tax savings and avoided legal costs.

Do I need a trust if I live in Bethpage?

Many Bethpage residents benefit from trusts, especially given the high property values in Nassau County. If your total assets exceed $1 million (which often includes just your home plus retirement accounts), a trust can help minimize estate taxes and avoid probate. Trusts also provide crucial protection if you need long-term care. With nursing home costs on Long Island exceeding $150,000 per year, proper trust planning can help protect your assets while still qualifying for Medicaid benefits. This is especially important for married couples who want to ensure the healthy spouse can remain in the family home. The decision depends on your specific situation, including your age, health, family dynamics, and financial goals. During our consultation, we’ll review your assets and help you understand whether a trust makes sense for your family’s situation.

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

If you die without a will in New York, state law determines how your assets are distributed through a process called intestate succession. This rarely matches what people actually want for their families. For married couples, the surviving spouse receives the first $50,000 plus half of the remaining assets, with children receiving the other half. If you have minor children, the court will appoint a guardian—who may not be the person you would have chosen. Your assets will be tied up in probate court for months or years, with legal fees and court costs eating into your family’s inheritance. For Bethpage families with valuable real estate, dying without a will can be especially problematic. The family home might need to be sold to divide assets among heirs, or family members might be forced into unwanted business partnerships. A properly drafted will ensures your wishes are followed and your family avoids these complications.

How often should I update my estate plan?

You should review your estate plan every three to five years, or whenever you experience major life changes like marriage, divorce, birth of children or grandchildren, significant changes in assets, or changes in health status. New York laws also change periodically, which can affect your planning strategies. For example, recent changes to federal estate tax exemptions and New York’s estate tax laws may impact your plan. We stay current on these changes and proactively reach out to clients when updates are needed. We recommend scheduling regular reviews because life rarely stays the same. Your children grow up, your financial situation changes, and your priorities evolve. An estate plan that made sense when you were 45 might not work as well when you’re 65 and thinking about retirement or long-term care needs.

Can you help with Medicaid planning in Bethpage?

Yes, Medicaid planning is a crucial part of our estate planning services, especially for Long Island families facing high long-term care costs. With nursing home costs exceeding $150,000 per year in our area, proper Medicaid planning can save families hundreds of thousands of dollars. Medicaid planning involves restructuring your assets to qualify for benefits while protecting as much of your wealth as possible for your spouse and children. This might include setting up certain types of trusts, transferring assets according to specific timelines, or converting countable assets into exempt assets like home improvements. The key is planning ahead. Medicaid has a five-year lookback period, so transfers made too close to needing care can result in penalties. We work with families to create comprehensive plans that address both estate planning and potential long-term care needs, ensuring you’re protected regardless of what the future holds.

Do you offer home visits for estate planning in Bethpage?

Absolutely. We understand that not everyone can easily come to our office, especially seniors dealing with mobility issues or families managing care for aging parents. We regularly meet clients at their homes, hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities throughout the Bethpage area. Home visits often work better for estate planning because we can see your living situation firsthand and better understand your needs. It’s also more comfortable for many clients to discuss personal and financial matters in their own environment, especially when involving multiple family members in the planning process. We offer flexible scheduling including early morning, evening, and weekend appointments to accommodate your schedule. There’s never an additional charge for home visits within our service area, and we bring all necessary documents and equipment to complete your estate planning wherever you’re most comfortable.

Local Resources

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

Estate Planning Attorney in Bethpage, NY

Protect Your Family's Future Today