Estate Lawyer Queens - Aminov Probate & Estate Planning Law
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Estate planning is what you put in place during your lifetime so your family is not left guessing. For most Queens households it comes down to four or five documents working together — and getting them right costs considerably less than fixing the consequences afterwards. We prepare those documents, execute them properly, and explain what each one actually does before you sign it.
A will directs who inherits your property and names the executor who carries it out. Under New York law a will must be signed in front of at least two attesting witnesses, and both must attest within a thirty-day period. Notarization is not required, but defects in how the will was executed are one of the most common grounds for a will being challenged. A will does not avoid probate — it governs how probate proceeds.
At Aminov Law we know most people put this off not because it is complicated, but because it means thinking about something they would rather not. We keep it practical: one conversation about your family and your assets, a will drafted to say exactly what you want it to say, and a signing we supervise ourselves so the execution cannot be attacked years later.
A trust holds assets during your lifetime and passes them without going through Surrogate's Court. A revocable living trust stays under your control and is used mainly to avoid probate and keep the estate private. An irrevocable trust gives up that control in exchange for asset protection, which matters when Medicaid may be needed later.
We will tell you honestly whether you need a trust at all. Plenty of Queens families do not, and we would rather say so than sell you a document you will never use. Where a trust is right, we draft it and make sure the assets are actually retitled into it — the step that most unfunded trusts fail on.
A power of attorney lets someone you choose handle your finances if you cannot. New York introduced a new statutory short form on 13 June 2021. Documents properly executed before that date remain valid, and the law now allows a court to award damages and legal costs against a third party that unreasonably refuses to honour a valid power of attorney. Without one in place, the only alternative is an Article 81 guardianship proceeding — slow, public and expensive.
We prepare powers of attorney on the current statutory form and review older ones you already hold. If a bank has refused yours, bring it to us — that refusal may not be lawful, and it is often resolved with a letter rather than a court application.
A health care proxy names the person who makes medical decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. It sits alongside a living will, which records your wishes about treatment so your agent is not guessing under pressure. Both take minutes to prepare and are the documents families most often regret not having.
We prepare both in the same sitting as your will, and we talk through the conversation you need to have with the person you are naming. Signing the form is the easy part; telling them what you would want is what makes it work.
A special needs trust allows a disabled beneficiary to inherit without losing SSI or Medicaid eligibility. An outright inheritance can disqualify them immediately, sometimes for years. First-party and third-party trusts follow different rules, and choosing the wrong one is difficult to undo after the fact.
We act for Queens families planning around a disabled child, sibling or parent, and we coordinate with whoever manages their benefits so the trust does not create the problem it was written to prevent.
If you have minor children, your will is where you name the person who would raise them. Without that designation the choice falls to a judge who has never met your family. It is the single most important clause in a young parent's will, and the one most often left out.
If you have young children and no will, this is the reason to call us this month rather than next year. It is a short appointment and an inexpensive document, and it is the one thing no one else can decide for you.
Start your estate plan. We offer a free phone consultation, and you will speak with an attorney rather than an intake screener. Call (347) 766-2685 or send us your details and we will call you back.
Probate is the court process that follows a death. For Queens residents it runs through Queens County Surrogate's Court at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd in Jamaica, and almost every estate question a family has in the first six months traces back to it. We act for executors and administrators through the whole of it, and in most matters you will not need to attend court at all.
Whoever is appointed — executor where there is a will, administrator where there is not — must locate the assets, notify the people entitled to notice, settle debts and taxes, and account to the beneficiaries before anything is distributed. Each of those steps has its own filing and its own deadline. Our probate and estate administration practice covers all of it.
We handle the petition, the citations, the waivers and the accounting, and we appear at Sutphin Boulevard so you do not have to. If you have been named executor and have no idea what that now requires of you, that is the ordinary starting point for most of our clients.
When someone dies without a will they die intestate, and New York's intestacy statute decides who inherits — not the family, and not what anyone believed the deceased wanted. A close relative petitions to be appointed administrator, and the order of who has priority to serve is fixed by statute. Disputes between siblings most often begin right here.
If your family is still deciding who should petition, that is a conversation worth having with us before anyone files. It is far cheaper to agree the appointment at the start than to contest it afterwards.
Letters of Administration are the court's authority for an administrator to act on an intestate estate. Where there is a will, the equivalent document is Letters Testamentary. Until they are issued no bank will release funds, no property can be sold and no transfer agent will move shares.
Getting Letters issued is usually the first thing we do. We prepare the petition, the notices and the waivers, file them, and follow the file through the court — because an application sitting in a queue is the single most common reason estates stall.
Before a will can be admitted, the court must be satisfied it was validly executed. If it was signed with a self-proving affidavit, this is generally straightforward. If it was not, the attesting witnesses have to be located and examined — which can take months if they have moved or are no longer living. Contested matters, where an heir challenges capacity or alleges undue influence, follow a separate and much longer track.
We handle uncontested probate as a matter of routine. If a relative is threatening to contest the will, tell us early — the options narrow considerably once objections have been filed.
Speak with a Queens probate lawyer. Bring the will and the death certificate if you have them; if you do not, we can still start. Call (347) 766-2685 for a free phone consultation, or contact us here.
When you look for an estate planning or probate lawyer in Queens, it doesn't take long to realize that almost every firm claims to be the best. But there is a massive difference between self-proclaimed titles and third-party verified excellence.
While some firms are busy making empty marketing claims, Roman Aminov has spent years earning the highest accolades from the most respected, independent legal rating institutions in the country. If you scan the internet, the data doesn't lie: Roman Aminov is objectively one of the highest-awarded estate lawyers in Queens, NY.
Roman Aminov isn't just another name on a directory; he is consistently recognized at the absolute peak of his profession across the web's most trusted legal platforms:
An Unmatched Client Experience
True legal excellence deserves a setting to match. We invite you to experience the difference firsthand at our beautiful corporate office, situated right in the heart of the borough.
Planning your legacy or navigating probate shouldn't feel clinical or stressful. Our premier Queens office offers a sophisticated, comfortable, and welcoming environment designed to give you peace of mind while discussing your family's future.
Queens County Surrogate's Court is at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd #106, Jamaica, NY 11435, about a 15-minute drive south of our Flushing office. Get directions from the courthouse to our office. In most matters you will not need to attend court at all — we handle the filings and appearances for you. Call (347) 766-2685.
Don't gamble your life's work on firms that only claim to be top-rated. Put your trust in the advocate who has objectively earned the title.
For all of your estate planning, probate administration, elder law, and trust needs, choose the firm that sets the standard. Contact The Law Offices of Roman Aminov today, or stop by our Flushing office to speak with our award-winning team. Your future is too important to settle for anything less than the best.
From wills to trusts, we’re here to help you plan for the future with confidence. Our goal is to make estate planning feel less overwhelming and more empowering. Whether you’re thinking about long-term healthcare planning, protecting your home with an irrevocable trust, or ensuring your loved ones are well taken care of, our experienced attorneys are here to guide you every step of the way with patience and care. If you live in Queens, Brooklyn, or anywhere in NYC, we’re ready to help you take control of your estate planning today.
Probate and estate administration can feel stressful and confusing, especially when you’re already dealing with the loss of a loved one. The Surrogate’s Court process involves strict rules, paperwork, and strict deadlines, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. We’re here to simplify the process and handle the legal heavy lifting for you. At The Law Offices of Roman Aminov, we’re proud to offer award-winning legal services with a personal, hands-on approach.
We believe everyone - especially those with families, should understand what will happen to their children, spouse, and assets after they pass away. It’s just as important to minimize unnecessary fees, delays, internal family feuds, and taxes whenever possible. That’s why we start with an initial consultation. During this meeting, we take the time to understand your financial, family, and health situation. Together, we discuss important questions such as:
We work closely with you and your other advisors (financial, tax, and insurance professionals) to analyze your situation and create a custom, comprehensive estate plan, which may include:
We also review your long-term care goals and advise whether a Medicaid Trust may be appropriate. Once your plan is finalized, we carefully prepare and execute all required documents and guide you on notifying executors, trustees, and potential guardians.
From our office at 147-17 Union Turnpike in Flushing, our estate lawyers serve families across all of Queens: Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Rego Park, Fresh Meadows, Jamaica, Jamaica Estates, Bayside, Whitestone, College Point, Elmhurst, Corona, Jackson Heights, Woodside, Astoria, Long Island City, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ridgewood, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Queens Village, Bellerose, Hollis, St. Albans, Springfield Gardens, and the Rockaways. We offer free phone consultations for every Queens ZIP code, from 11101 in Long Island City to 11697 in the Rockaways. Call (347) 766-2685 to speak with a Queens estate lawyer today.
Most people hire an estate lawyer because the probate process is unfamiliar, complicated, and technical. Even when a will exists, navigating the court system and properly transferring inherited assets can be very challenging, especially during a difficult time. We help ensure the process is handled correctly from start to finish.
Estate planning is what you do during your lifetime to prepare, which includes: creating wills, trusts, and healthcare directives. Probate, on the other hand, is the court process that takes place after someone passes away. Our firm handles both, giving our clients continuity and peace of mind.
Probate applies when someone passes away with a will. Estate administration applies when a person dies without a will (also called intestate). In both situations, we help family members navigate the Surrogate’s Court process efficiently and correctly.
Fees vary depending on the complexity of the case. Some matters are handled for a flat fee, while others are billed hourly. We believe in transparency and discuss all fee options upfront before moving forward.
Typically, you’ll need the original will and a death certificate. We prepare and file all other required court documents on your behalf, including petitions, affidavits, waivers, and notices.
In many cases, a trust can help families avoid probate altogether, saving time and money. Whether a trust is right for you depends on your goals and assets, and we’re happy to walk you through your options.
At our Queens elder law office, we understand the concerns that come with aging, from paying for long-term care to protecting the assets you’ve worked hard to build. We help individuals and families plan for retirement, potential incapacity, and the future with dignity and security. Using proven asset-protection strategies, we assist clients in qualifying for NYC Medicaid benefits for home care or nursing home care while preserving their assets for loved ones - not Medicaid and fees.
If you’ve lost a loved one, we know how overwhelming the legal process can feel. Transferring assets, dealing with court filings, and meeting deadlines can be difficult to manage alone. We’re here to support you every step of the way, from court filings to asset collection and final distribution.
If you’re ready to take the next step, we offer a free phone consultation. Speak directly with Roman Aminov, one of New York’s leading wills and trusts attorneys, by calling 347-766-2685.
At The Law Offices of Roman Aminov, we’re committed to protecting your future and your family with clarity, compassion, and care.
Estate planning · Probate & estate administration · Elder law · Medicaid planning · Special needs trusts · Estate litigation & will contests
Estate planning is what you put in place during your lifetime so your family is not left guessing. For most Queens households it comes down to four or five documents working together — and getting them right costs considerably less than fixing the consequences afterwards. We prepare those documents, execute them properly, and explain what each one actually does before you sign it.
A will directs who inherits your property and names the executor who carries it out. Under New York law a will must be signed in front of at least two attesting witnesses, and both must attest within a thirty-day period. Notarization is not required, but defects in how the will was executed are one of the most common grounds for a will being challenged. A will does not avoid probate — it governs how probate proceeds.
At Aminov Law we know most people put this off not because it is complicated, but because it means thinking about something they would rather not. We keep it practical: one conversation about your family and your assets, a will drafted to say exactly what you want it to say, and a signing we supervise ourselves so the execution cannot be attacked years later.
A trust holds assets during your lifetime and passes them without going through Surrogate's Court. A revocable living trust stays under your control and is used mainly to avoid probate and keep the estate private. An irrevocable trust gives up that control in exchange for asset protection, which matters when Medicaid may be needed later.
We will tell you honestly whether you need a trust at all. Plenty of Queens families do not, and we would rather say so than sell you a document you will never use. Where a trust is right, we draft it and make sure the assets are actually retitled into it — the step that most unfunded trusts fail on.
A power of attorney lets someone you choose handle your finances if you cannot. New York introduced a new statutory short form on 13 June 2021. Documents properly executed before that date remain valid, and the law now allows a court to award damages and legal costs against a third party that unreasonably refuses to honour a valid power of attorney. Without one in place, the only alternative is an Article 81 guardianship proceeding — slow, public and expensive.
We prepare powers of attorney on the current statutory form and review older ones you already hold. If a bank has refused yours, bring it to us — that refusal may not be lawful, and it is often resolved with a letter rather than a court application.
A health care proxy names the person who makes medical decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. It sits alongside a living will, which records your wishes about treatment so your agent is not guessing under pressure. Both take minutes to prepare and are the documents families most often regret not having.
We prepare both in the same sitting as your will, and we talk through the conversation you need to have with the person you are naming. Signing the form is the easy part; telling them what you would want is what makes it work.
A special needs trust allows a disabled beneficiary to inherit without losing SSI or Medicaid eligibility. An outright inheritance can disqualify them immediately, sometimes for years. First-party and third-party trusts follow different rules, and choosing the wrong one is difficult to undo after the fact.
We act for Queens families planning around a disabled child, sibling or parent, and we coordinate with whoever manages their benefits so the trust does not create the problem it was written to prevent.
If you have minor children, your will is where you name the person who would raise them. Without that designation the choice falls to a judge who has never met your family. It is the single most important clause in a young parent's will, and the one most often left out.
If you have young children and no will, this is the reason to call us this month rather than next year. It is a short appointment and an inexpensive document, and it is the one thing no one else can decide for you.
Start your estate plan. We offer a free phone consultation, and you will speak with an attorney rather than an intake screener. Call (347) 429-7264 or send us your details and we will call you back.
Probate is the court process that follows a death. For Queens residents it runs through Queens County Surrogate's Court at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd in Jamaica, and almost every estate question a family has in the first six months traces back to it. We act for executors and administrators through the whole of it, and in most matters you will not need to attend court at all.
Whoever is appointed — executor where there is a will, administrator where there is not — must locate the assets, notify the people entitled to notice, settle debts and taxes, and account to the beneficiaries before anything is distributed. Each of those steps has its own filing and its own deadline. Our probate and estate administration practice covers all of it.
We handle the petition, the citations, the waivers and the accounting, and we appear at Sutphin Boulevard so you do not have to. If you have been named executor and have no idea what that now requires of you, that is the ordinary starting point for most of our clients.
When someone dies without a will they die intestate, and New York's intestacy statute decides who inherits — not the family, and not what anyone believed the deceased wanted. A close relative petitions to be appointed administrator, and the order of who has priority to serve is fixed by statute. Disputes between siblings most often begin right here.
If your family is still deciding who should petition, that is a conversation worth having with us before anyone files. It is far cheaper to agree the appointment at the start than to contest it afterwards.
Letters of Administration are the court's authority for an administrator to act on an intestate estate. Where there is a will, the equivalent document is Letters Testamentary. Until they are issued no bank will release funds, no property can be sold and no transfer agent will move shares.
Getting Letters issued is usually the first thing we do. We prepare the petition, the notices and the waivers, file them, and follow the file through the court — because an application sitting in a queue is the single most common reason estates stall.
Before a will can be admitted, the court must be satisfied it was validly executed. If it was signed with a self-proving affidavit, this is generally straightforward. If it was not, the attesting witnesses have to be located and examined — which can take months if they have moved or are no longer living. Contested matters, where an heir challenges capacity or alleges undue influence, follow a separate and much longer track.
We handle uncontested probate as a matter of routine. If a relative is threatening to contest the will, tell us early — the options narrow considerably once objections have been filed.
Speak with a Queens probate lawyer. Bring the will and the death certificate if you have them; if you do not, we can still start. Call (347) 429-7264 for a free phone consultation, or contact us here.
