Thank You – Your Appointment Request Has Been Received
We appreciate your interest in planning with Elder Plan Law.
Thank you for submitting your form to book an appointment. Our office has received your request and a member of our team will review it shortly.
What Happens Next?
- Confirmation: You should receive a confirmation email or call to finalize the date and time of your appointment.
- Questions: If we need additional information, someone from our office will reach out before your meeting.
- Format: Appointments can often be held by video, phone, or in-person depending on your preference and availability.
If you need to reach us sooner, you can call our office at (646) 499-5700.
While You Wait: A Quick Overview of Estate Planning
Estate planning is about making sure that the people you care about are protected and that your wishes are honored if something happens to you. A good plan will:
- Decide who receives your assets and when they receive them.
- Choose trusted decision-makers to handle finances and medical decisions if you become incapacitated.
- Help avoid unnecessary court involvement, delays, and family conflict.
- Coordinate with beneficiary designations on accounts and insurance policies.
What Does a Will Do?
A Last Will & Testament is a document that tells the court who should manage your estate and how your assets should be distributed after you pass away. A will can:
- Appoint an executor to handle your estate.
- Nominate guardians for minor children.
- Provide basic instructions for dividing your property and personal belongings.
Keep in mind that a will generally must go through a court process called probate. Depending on your assets and family situation, we may discuss whether a will-based plan or a trust-based plan is better for you.
What Is a Trust and When Is It Helpful?
A revocable living trust is a flexible planning tool that can hold your assets during your lifetime and distribute them after you pass away, usually without a full probate proceeding. A trust can be especially useful if you:
- Own real estate, particularly in more than one state.
- Want to help your family avoid or simplify probate.
- Prefer additional privacy, since a funded trust can keep more details out of the public record.
- Want to structure how and when beneficiaries receive their inheritance (for example, in stages or for specific purposes).
Not everyone needs a trust. At your appointment, we will review your goals, assets, and family situation to determine whether a will-based plan or a trust-based plan (or a combination) makes the most sense.
We look forward to speaking with you and helping you put a clear estate plan in place. If anything about your availability changes before your appointment, please call us at (646) 499-5700 or reply to your confirmation email.