New York Probate And Estate Administration Services
Our attorneys provide top-quality representation in all estate matters, including wills, trusts, and tax and estate litigation in the surrogate’s courts of all five boroughs of New York City, as well as Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties. Contact us to learn about revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, pour-over provisions in wills, powers of attorney and transfer on death accounts.
If you seek to be appointed executor of an estate, we will ask you for an original will, death certificate, family tree and paid funeral bill so we can prepare an application to probate the will and move quickly. The probate process in New York can be costly, and we make sure to get the job done in the most efficient and effective manner.
What If There Is No Will?
When a person dies without a will, the laws of intestacy apply; we determine the next of kin, assess who has priority to be appointed estate representative and serve the necessary parties to an estate administration proceeding.
In addition to routine probate and estate administration matters, we have also had tremendous success and experience in litigation cases involving probate of contested wills, complex estates, heirship issues, trust accountings, and estates of unmarried and same-sex couples.
Gabor & Marotta LLC stands out for managing multimillion-dollar estates and intricate probate and estate proceedings, including hotly contested litigation. Other firms frequently refer clients to us for estate and probate matters. Trust our attorneys’ proficiency and proven track record.
Call our Manhattan office at 212-349-1200 or Staten Island office at 718-390-0555.
Comprehensive Assistance With Wills, Trusts And Estates
Combining extensive litigation skills with established estate planning, the firm offers thorough and sophisticated counsel in all trust and estate matters, including:
- Probate of wills and administration of estates
- Objections
- Accountings
- Recovery of estate assets
- Will construction proceedings and reformation of wills
- Charitable giving and charitable foundations
- Trust disputes and other estate litigation
We work with New Yorkers from every background. Whether you are a doctor, lawyer, teacher, small-business owner or construction worker, we tailor our estate planning strategies to your unique needs and goals.
Taxes, Estate Planning And Asset Protection
The federal estate and gift tax exemption has increased to $15 million per person in 2026. The New York estate tax basic exclusion amount for decedents dying in 2026 is $7,350,000.
Estate planning services for the firm’s clients include drafting wills, trusts, tax and Medicaid planning, and establishing trusts for minors. We also handle charitable remainder trusts, special needs trusts, life insurance trusts, asset protection trusts and other trusts tailored to individual family and estate planning needs, including:
- Revocable trusts
- Avoiding probate
- Irrevocable trusts
- Asset protection
- Family limited partnerships
- Wealth preservation
- Business succession
- Elder law
- Medicaid
- Life estates
- Power of attorney
- Healthcare proxy
- Taxable and nontaxable gifts
- Post-marital divorce planning
For more info on trusts and estate planning, visit our online estate planning learning center.
Differences Between Probate And Estate Administration In NYC
Probate is the legal process that validates a last will and testament. It also formally appoints the named executor to carry out the deceased’s wishes. If your loved one left a valid will, probate is the path you will take in Surrogate’s Court.
Estate administration is a separate process that applies when someone dies intestate, meaning without a will. In that case, the Surrogate’s Court appoints an administrator, typically the closest living relative, to manage the estate. An administrator must distribute assets according to New York state inheritance laws rather than following instructions in a will.
What Are The Duties Of An Executor Or Administrator?
Serving as an executor or administrator is a serious legal responsibility. Both roles carry the same core fiduciary duties under New York law, and failing to perform them correctly puts you at personal financial risk.
As an executor or administrator, you are responsible for:
- Marshaling the assets: Identifying, locating and securing all property that belongs to the estate
- Filing an accurate inventory: Preparing a full accounting of estate assets for the court
- Paying valid debts and final taxes: Satisfying all outstanding creditors and filing required returns, including New York state estate tax if applicable
- Distributing the remaining funds: Transferring assets to heirs only after the estate fully satisfies all obligations
Working with a local NYC estate attorney is critical at every stage. New York law holds executors and administrators personally liable if they distribute funds to heirs before fully satisfying the estate’s creditors.
How Long Does It Take To Settle An Estate In New York?
Whether your matter goes through probate or administration, a standard uncontested New York estate takes a minimum of seven to nine months to settle. That timeline reflects the structure of New York law, not administrative delay.
State law grants creditors at least seven months to file claims against an estate, which opens when the Surrogate’s Court issues Letters Testamentary to an executor or Letters of Administration to an administrator. The estate cannot close until that creditor period expires. Contested matters, unresolved tax questions or complex assets can extend the timeline well beyond that minimum.
Be Smart About Protecting Family Assets
Our firm manages millions in family and business assets through wills, gifts, trusts, family limited partnerships and guardianship accounts. You don’t need vast wealth to benefit from professional guidance on preserving and transferring assets or ensuring the smooth transition of your family business.
Nursing home care in New York now easily exceeds $10,000 per month. Don’t risk your business and family assets to creditors, government claims, distant heirs or the rising costs of long-term medical and institutional care.
Think Ahead And Contact Us Today
Our clients include business owners, doctors, lawyers, architects and other professionals. They know that a little planning goes a long way toward providing for your children and family. Proper planning also ensures your parents are comfortable and well cared for in their later years.
A last will and testament appoints the executor of your estate and documents your last wishes. Trusts, beneficiary designations, joint accounts and other estate planning vehicles can dispose of your entire estate and transfer assets and heirs seamlessly, even without the need to probate a will.
Please feel free to call our Manhattan or Staten Island office at 718-390-0555, or simply contact us online. We’re always here to listen and help you plan the next step, whenever you’re ready.