When estate planning is done correctly the first time, there is nothing to undo, no court to return to, and no family emergency to manage later. At Morgan Legal Group, Russel Morgan, Esq. coordinates every instrument — will, trust, power of attorney, and health care proxy — into a single, coherent plan governed by New York law.
What a Complete New York Estate Plan Requires
A properly executed plan is not a single document. Under New York’s EPTL and related statutes, four instruments work in concert:
| Instrument | Governing Authority | Core Function |
|---|---|---|
| Last Will & Testament | EPTL §3-2.1 | Directs probate assets; requires two witnesses and testator’s signature at the end |
| Revocable or Irrevocable Trust | EPTL Article 7 | Avoids probate; irrevocable structures address Medicaid’s 5-year look-back and 2026 estate tax planning (cliff at $7,717,500) |
| Durable Power of Attorney | GOL §5-1513 | 2021 statutory short form; durable by default for financial decisions |
| Health Care Proxy | NY Public Health Law Art. 29-C | Appoints an agent for medical decisions — legally distinct from the financial POA |
Dying without a will transfers control to EPTL Article 4’s intestacy rules — a statutory formula that rarely matches your actual wishes.
We Serve All of New York State
Morgan Legal Group assists clients across New York’s regions — from New York City and Long Island through Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and Upstate communities. Jurisdiction determines which surrogate’s court oversees probate; proper drafting anticipates it from the start.
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