A Trust Lawyer Manhattan Families Can Rely On
A trust only works if it is built right and actually funded. We draft the trust to fit your goals, privacy, probate avoidance, control over what your heirs receive, and then do the part most firms skip: moving your co-op, condo, and accounts into it so the plan holds when it matters.
Why Manhattan families use trusts
Probate in New York County is public, slow, and avoidable. A living trust lets your estate pass privately and without the Surrogate's Court delay, and it gives you control: you decide whether children receive everything at once or over time, and you protect a beneficiary who is not ready to manage a windfall. For many Manhattan families, that control and privacy is the whole point.
The step everyone forgets: funding
An unfunded trust is just paper. Funding, retitling your co-op shares, condo, bank and brokerage accounts into the trust's name, is what actually keeps those assets out of probate. We handle trust funding directly, including the co-op board approval that retitling Manhattan co-op shares often requires, so the trust is not empty when your family needs it.
We coordinate the trust with the rest of your estate plan, your will, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations, so everything points the same direction.
Revocable, irrevocable, and what fits you
Most plans start with a revocable trust you can change anytime. Where the goals are asset protection or long-term care planning, an irrevocable trust may fit better, with real trade-offs we will walk you through honestly. The right structure depends on your assets and what you are trying to accomplish, not on a one-size template.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'fund' a trust, and why does it matter?
Funding means retitling assets, your co-op shares, condo, and accounts, into the trust's name. It is the step that actually keeps those assets out of probate. A trust that is signed but never funded does not do its job, which is why we handle funding for you.
Can a revocable trust hold my Manhattan co-op?
Usually yes, but co-op corporations have transfer and board-approval rules, and some require specific language or consent before shares move into a trust. We handle that approval process so the co-op is properly held by the trust.
Revocable or irrevocable, which do I need?
A revocable trust keeps full control and flexibility and is the common choice for probate avoidance and privacy. An irrevocable trust gives up some control in exchange for asset protection or Medicaid planning benefits. We recommend based on your specific goals and explain the trade-offs plainly.
Set up a trust that actually works
Speak with Alan Vaitzman, Esq. about drafting and funding your trust. Free consultation, clear pricing.
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