Queens Last Will and Testament

Most people are familiar with what a last will and testament is. Typically referred to as a will, a last will and testament is a legal document through which you leave instructions as to what you would like to happen to your property once you pass away. You can also leave instructions about who you would like to be the guardians for your minor children. When you pass away, it is your executor's job to manage your estate through probate, and ultimately distribute your property to your beneficiaries according to the terms of your will. Thus, it is important that your will is well-drafted to minimize problems during probate. To create a will and other estate planning documents that are specifically tailored to accomplish your personal goals, contact an experienced Queens last will and testament lawyer to guide you through the process.

There are several reasons to have a last will and testament.

• To provide for your spouse and children once you pass away
• To give gifts to loved ones
• To give gifts to support charitable organizations
• To name guardians for your children
• To make sure that certain relatives do not receive your property once you pass away
• To protect your business
• To minimize tax liability
• To minimize disagreement among family members over your property

In order to ensure that our specific goals are achieved, it is important that you work closely with a skilled Queens last will and testament lawyer to draft your will.

If you pass away without a will, our property will not go to the family, friends, and organizations of your choosing, but will go to your heirs as determined by New York's rules of intestate succession. This means not only certain blood relatives will received your property regardless of our wishes. Under New York law, without a will friends, in-laws, and organizations do not have the right to receive your property. In addition, any other estate planning goals that you might have will be in jeopardy. For example, let's say you want your best friend to be the guardian of our child. However, the child's grandparents want to be the guardians. A court will decide, and the result may be that the grandparents are awarded guardianship. Similarly, you wishes to protect your business, minimize taxes, and support charitable organizations may not be fulfilled.

Furthermore, without a will there is a higher probability that there will be disputes over your estate among family members. This will make a difficult time and a difficult process even more difficult and time-consuming.

Thus, it is critical to make sure that you have a will. In addition, as a experienced last will and testament attorney in Queens will explain, it also important that you will is skillfully drafted and executed. Failure to do so leaves your will and our estate vulnerable to a will challenge and estate litigation. If this happens, there is a possibility that your last will and testament will be declared invalid and your estate will be treated as if you did not have a will at all.

In addition to a will, in order to meet your planning goals, you may need additional estate planning tools such as a living will and trust. The last will and testament attorneys serving Queens at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates has years of experience drafting wills, and representing testators, executors, fiduciaries and beneficiaries with a variety of complex estate and probate issues. Contact us at 800-696-9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.