Fratello Law

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Trust Attorney in North Hempstead, NY

Your Assets Protected, Your Family Secure

Skip the probate headaches and protect what matters most with a trust attorney who understands North Hempstead families.

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Call: 631-406-5580

Living Trust Benefits North Hempstead

What Life Looks Like After Probate

Your family gets immediate access to your assets. No waiting months for court approval. No public records exposing your private affairs.

The probate process in New York can drag on for over a year, costing your family thousands in legal fees while your assets sit frozen. Your beneficiaries can’t access funds when they need them most.

With a properly structured trust, your successor trustee steps in immediately. Assets transfer seamlessly. Your family focuses on grieving and healing, not legal battles and bureaucratic delays.

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Experienced Trust Lawyers North Hempstead

We Know Long Island Families

We’ve served Long Island families since 2012, understanding the unique challenges of North Hempstead’s high property values and complex estate planning needs. We know what it’s like to watch families struggle through probate while assets remain tied up in court.

Our team speaks your language—literally. We offer bilingual services in Spanish and Italian, recognizing the diverse communities that call North Hempstead home. We’ll meet you at your kitchen table, in the hospital, or at the nursing home because we understand that life doesn’t always happen in an office.

We’ve helped hundreds of families protect multi-generational wealth, from modest homes to substantial estates, always with the same personal attention and clear communication.

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Trust Creation Process North Hempstead

How We Build Your Trust

First, we listen. You tell us about your family, your assets, and your concerns. We ask questions about your Long Island property, your retirement accounts, and what keeps you up at night about your family’s future.

Next, we design your trust strategy. Revocable for flexibility, irrevocable for tax benefits and Medicaid protection, or specific trusts for unique family situations. We explain each option in plain English, not legal jargon.

Then we draft and execute your documents. We handle the paperwork, coordinate the signings, and make sure everything is properly funded. Your assets get transferred into the trust, and we walk you through managing everything going forward.

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Trust Administration North Hempstead NY

What's Included in Your Trust

Your trust package includes the trust document itself, a pour-over will for any assets outside the trust, and detailed instructions for your successor trustee. We also provide ongoing support for trust administration and modifications as your life changes.

In North Hempstead, where property values average well above the state median, we pay special attention to real estate transfers and tax implications. We understand Nassau County’s specific requirements for deed transfers and work with local title companies to ensure smooth property transfers into your trust.

We also coordinate with your existing financial advisors and accountants, ensuring your trust integrates seamlessly with your overall financial plan. Many of our North Hempstead clients have complex investment portfolios and business interests that require careful trust planning.

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

Trust costs in North Hempstead typically range from $2,500 to $5,000 depending on complexity, but this investment often saves families tens of thousands in probate costs later. A simple revocable living trust for a married couple with straightforward assets usually falls on the lower end of this range. The cost depends on factors like the number of properties you own, business interests, and special family circumstances like special needs beneficiaries. We provide transparent pricing upfront during your free consultation, so you know exactly what to expect. Compare this to probate costs in New York, which can easily exceed $10,000 in attorney fees, court costs, and executor commissions, plus the time and stress your family endures while assets remain frozen.
A revocable trust gives you complete control—you can change beneficiaries, add or remove assets, or cancel the trust entirely while you’re alive. You remain the trustee and continue managing your assets exactly as before. This flexibility makes revocable trusts popular for basic estate planning and probate avoidance. An irrevocable trust, once created, cannot be easily changed or revoked. You give up direct control of the assets, but gain significant benefits like potential tax savings and Medicaid asset protection. This is crucial for Long Island families facing potential nursing home costs that can exceed $150,000 annually. The choice depends on your priorities. If flexibility is most important, choose revocable. If asset protection from creditors, taxes, or long-term care costs is your primary concern, irrevocable may be better.
Yes, you still need what’s called a “pour-over will” even with a trust. This will catches any assets you forgot to transfer into the trust during your lifetime and directs them into the trust after your death. It also allows you to name guardians for minor children, which a trust cannot do. The pour-over will also handles personal items like jewelry, family heirlooms, and household goods that might not be formally titled assets. In North Hempstead, where many families have valuable art collections or antiques, this backup protection is essential. Think of the will as your safety net. While the trust handles the major assets like your home, investment accounts, and business interests, the will ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
Most trusts are completed within 3-4 weeks from our initial meeting. The timeline depends on how quickly you can gather financial information and coordinate with your other advisors. Simple revocable trusts move faster than complex irrevocable structures. We start with a comprehensive consultation to understand your goals and family situation. Then we draft your documents, typically within 1-2 weeks. After you review and approve the drafts, we schedule a signing appointment and begin the asset transfer process. The funding process—actually transferring assets into the trust—often takes the longest. Real estate transfers in Nassau County require deed preparation and recording. Financial accounts need new signature cards. We coordinate this entire process to minimize your involvement while ensuring everything is properly completed.
With a revocable living trust, you typically serve as your own trustee during your lifetime, maintaining complete control over your assets. You handle investments, pay bills, and make financial decisions exactly as you did before creating the trust. Nothing changes in your day-to-day financial management. You’ll name a successor trustee to take over if you become incapacitated or pass away. This can be a trusted family member, friend, or professional trustee like a bank or trust company. Many North Hempstead families choose adult children who live nearby and understand the family’s financial situation. For irrevocable trusts, you cannot serve as trustee since the goal is removing assets from your control. Here, choosing the right trustee is crucial—someone who understands your wishes and can manage assets responsibly for your beneficiaries’ benefit.
An irrevocable trust can protect assets from nursing home costs, but timing is critical. New York’s Medicaid program has a five-year “look-back” period, meaning any assets transferred to an irrevocable trust within five years of applying for benefits may still be considered available resources. This is particularly important for North Hempstead families, where nursing home costs can exceed $12,000 monthly. Starting Medicaid planning early, ideally while you’re healthy and in your 60s or early 70s, gives you the best asset protection options. A revocable trust offers no Medicaid protection since you retain control over the assets. However, it still provides probate avoidance and incapacity planning benefits. We help you balance asset protection goals with your need for flexibility and control over your resources.

Local Resources

North Hempstead, NY is located in Nassau County in New York State