If you live in New York and don't have a will, the State writes one for you.
Most New Yorkers don't think about estate planning until something — a parent's death, a baby, a real-estate purchase — forces it. By then, you're already behind. Without a valid will and the right trusts, New York's intestacy and probate rules quietly decide who inherits what, who controls minor children's money, and how much of your estate the IRS or NY State takes.
These 10 NYC firms specialise in wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, probate administration, and elder-law planning. Most offer flat fees for the basics and free or low-cost initial meetings.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Avvo), client review patterns, and bar association recognition. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: High-net-worth estate planning, trusts, family wealth, probate
Among NYC's most-cited HNW trusts and estates boutiques. Multiple partners on Best Lawyers list. Strong cross-border and family office work.
Practice focus: Trusts and estates, estate litigation, probate
One of the most active estate-litigation boutiques in NYC. Recognised by Chambers and Best Lawyers. Strong on contested probate.
Practice focus: Elder law, special-needs trusts, Medicaid planning, estate planning
Long-time NYC elder-law leader. Heavy work in special-needs trust drafting and Medicaid look-back planning.
Practice focus: Estate planning, probate, elder law, guardianship
Boutique with strong contested-estate and guardianship practice in NY Surrogate's Court.
Practice focus: Flat-fee wills, trusts, healthcare proxies, POAs
George Bischof has 30+ years and an LL.M. in tax. Transparent flat fees, no template mills — every plan is reviewed by a partner.
Practice focus: Estate planning, Medicaid asset protection, business succession
28+ years serving NYC. Strong Russian/Ukrainian/Hebrew bilingual practice. Frequent CLE speaker on Medicaid asset protection.
Practice focus: Estate planning, probate, Medicaid, elder law
Mid-market estate planning boutique with strong client communication and modern practice management. Bilingual Russian/English.
Practice focus: Wills, trusts, probate, asset protection
Boutique focused on individual and small-business estate plans. Direct attorney access, transparent flat fees.
Practice focus: Elder law, special-needs planning, estate planning, probate
Best Lawyers-listed for Elder Law and Trusts and Estates. Bernard Krooks is past president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
Practice focus: Trusts and estates, probate, estate tax, family wealth
HNW estate planning boutique. Strong cross-border work for clients with assets in NY and abroad.
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Request Free Consultation →Most basic plans (will, healthcare proxy, durable power of attorney, living will) come together in 2-4 weeks. Trust-based plans (revocable trust, life-insurance trust, special needs trust) take 4-8 weeks and may include real-estate retitling and beneficiary updates. Larger estates with NY State estate tax exposure (above the ~$7.16M 2026 exemption) require additional gifting and trust design. Probate after a death typically runs 9-18 months in Surrogate's Court.
Basic flat-fee will package: $1,500-$3,500 for an individual, $2,500-$5,000 for a couple. Revocable trust packages: $4,000-$8,500. More complex plans involving life-insurance trusts, GST planning, or business succession run $10,000-$30,000+. Probate is typically billed hourly ($350-$700/hour) or as a percentage of the estate, depending on jurisdiction and firm policy.
The legal directory you find on Google has thousands of New York City estate planning firms. Most are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, or visa approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior partner at intake, then never speak to them again. The case is handled by an unsupervised junior or a paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the retainer in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill, not a craftsperson's practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar association recognition. "We've helped thousands of clients" is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. "Don't worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate New York City lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what's covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
Most New York City firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
New York City is its own market. The procedure, the courts, and the strategy are city- and state-specific in ways that matter to your outcome.
Local courthouses matter. NY Supreme, Civil Court, and the Commercial Division have judges, calendars, and procedures that shape how cases move. A firm that knows the local courthouse has an advantage.
Filing deadlines are strict. Notice of Claim windows for cases against the City or County, Statute of Limitations periods, and pre-suit certification requirements vary by case type and are unforgiving. A missed deadline often means a lost case — full stop.
Local procedure rules matter. Each court has its own forms, motion practice, and judge preferences. The right New York City firm will know not just the law, but the unwritten rules of the courthouse you'll be in.
Local plaintiffs/defendants do well in front of local juries. Verdict patterns vary by venue, and a trial-capable firm uses venue strategically.
Your estate passes by NY EPTL § 4-1.1 intestacy rules. Spouse and children share. No spouse? Children take everything. No children? Parents, then siblings. The court appoints an administrator (not who you might want) and may require a costly bond.
Most people need both. A revocable living trust avoids probate, keeps things private, and manages assets if you become incapacitated. A will is still needed as a 'pour-over' to catch anything outside the trust and to name guardians for minor children.
The 2026 NY estate tax exemption is approximately $7.16 million. But beware the 'cliff' — estates above 105% of the exemption lose the exemption entirely and pay tax on the full estate. Federal estate tax exemption is roughly $13.99M per individual in 2026.
A healthcare proxy (NY Public Health Law Article 29-C) names someone to make medical decisions if you can't. Pair it with a HIPAA release and a living will (advance directive). Hospitals ask for them at admission. They cost essentially nothing to draft alongside a will package.
For very simple, modest estates with no minor children and no real estate — sometimes. For anyone with a house, blended family, business interest, special-needs beneficiary, or estate tax exposure, the savings of online services often disappear in the first probate fight or tax mistake. A flat-fee NYC estate plan often pays for itself many times over.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many cases like mine have you taken to verdict in the last three years? The answer tells you everything. — The LawFirmSquare team