Estate planning sounds complicated — it does not have to be. At Morgan Legal Group, attorney Russel Morgan, Esq. walks first-timers through every step in plain language. One appointment is all it takes to understand exactly what you need and why.
What We Cover in a First Appointment
A complete New York estate plan has four coordinated pieces. We explain all four and help you decide which apply to your situation.
| Essential Document | What It Does | Key NY Law |
|---|---|---|
| Will | Directs who inherits; must be signed at end before two witnesses | EPTL §3-2.1 |
| Revocable / Irrevocable Trust | Revocable avoids probate; irrevocable reduces taxes or protects assets for Medicaid’s 5-year look-back | EPTL Article 7 |
| Durable Power of Attorney | Authorizes someone to manage finances now or if you are incapacitated — durable by default under the 2021 statutory form | GOL §5-1513 |
| Health Care Proxy | Appoints an agent for medical decisions; separate from the financial POA | NY Public Health Law Art. 29-C |
One Thing First-Timers Often Miss: New York’s Estate Tax Cliff
New York’s 2026 basic exclusion is $7,350,000. If your estate exceeds $7,717,500 (105% of the exclusion), the entire estate is taxed from dollar one — not just the amount over the limit. Early planning with an irrevocable trust or charitable strategy can keep a taxable estate below the cliff. New York also adds back gifts made within three years of death. See our NY estate tax guide for details.
No matter where you are in New York — NYC, Long Island, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, or Upstate — your plan starts with a conversation. There are no wrong questions in a first appointment.
Schedule Your Free 30-Minute Consultation →
Further reading from Morgan Legal Group: why estate planning is so important.