West Village Trust Lawyer for NY Trust Planning, Administration, and Litigation
Brownstones, pre-war co-ops, and chosen family deserve a plan that reflects how you actually live. We handle trusts across the whole arc, setting them up, administering them when the time comes, and standing up for you when a dispute lands in court.
Planning that reflects your real family
New York's default inheritance rules assume a conventional family tree, and they can fail people whose closest relationships are not on it. A trust lets you decide exactly who inherits and who does not, partners, chosen family, friends, and a charity if you choose, with privacy and without leaving it to a court to interpret. For West Village families, that control is often the entire reason to plan.
Trusts, real estate, and New York estate tax
A West Village brownstone or co-op is frequently the largest asset in the estate, and a valuable one. We structure the trust to hold that property cleanly and coordinate estate tax planning around New York's threshold and cliff, so appreciation in your home does not hand an outsized share to the state.
Administration and disputes, handled
Trusts do not end at signing. When a grantor passes or steps back, the successor trustee must administer the trust, and we guide trustees through valuation, distributions, and estate accounting so the books are right and defensible. And if a trust becomes contested, an unhappy beneficiary, a questioned amendment, a trustee accused of overreach, we represent trustees and beneficiaries in those disputes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a trust make sure my partner or chosen family inherits?
Yes. New York's intestacy rules favor legal relatives, so without planning, an unmarried partner or chosen family may receive nothing. A properly drafted and funded trust lets you direct your assets to exactly the people you choose.
What does a successor trustee have to do when the grantor dies?
The successor trustee marshals assets, values the trust property, pays valid expenses, and distributes according to the trust terms, often with a formal accounting to beneficiaries. We guide trustees through each step so they meet their duties and avoid personal liability.
What happens if a trust is contested?
Disputes over a trust's validity, an amendment, or a trustee's conduct can be litigated in court. We represent both trustees defending their administration and beneficiaries challenging it, and we push for an efficient resolution wherever possible.
Protect the people you actually choose
Speak with Alan Vaitzman, Esq. about setting up, administering, or defending a trust. Free consultation.
Call (212) 413-4116 Send a message