Residents and business owners throughout Long Island and the metropolitan New York area rely on Farrell Fritz to help preserve, protect and disburse the assets they have developed over the years. Many closely-held and family-owned businesses that rely on Farrell Fritz attorneys for their corporate legal work have also turned to us for complete business succession and tax planning, as well as estate planning and administration. Estate Administration The Farrell Fritz estate administration department efficiently manages the disposition of clients' estates, from probate through final accounting. Our estate administrators address the needs of surviving family members and counsel fiduciaries in the best way to manage a decedent's assets. We provide advice and representation on federal and New York State estate, gift and income tax issues that affect the estate or trust, its beneficiaries or fiduciaries. As a result of our substantial experience with fiduciary law, we frequently represent clients in guardianship matters. Where a trust is involved, we provide counsel throughout the term of the trust. Estate Litigation The experienced estate litigators at Farrell Fritz have handled some of the largest and highest profile estate contests in New York State, and they fully understand the often-complicated issues that surround litigation in an estate. Combining an acute understanding of estate planning with an intimate knowledge of the Surrogate's Court system, our attorneys have represented parties in a broad range of litigated estate matters. Our experience runs from such issues as contested accountings, the investment performance of estates and trusts, disputes over a closely-held corporation or stockholders' agreement, to those involving gifts, competency and undue influence concerns in probate contests, simultaneous death issues, a spouse's right of election, and abandonment by a spouse. In addition to Surrogate's Court matters, our estate litigators have appeared in estate-related matters in many other judicial settings, including appellate courts, federal district court, tax court, and state supreme court. Estate Planning Our attorneys possess an in-depth knowledge of the legal, tax and personal issues that often accompany planning an estate. Individuals, families and trust departments of major financial institutions depend on the trust and estate attorneys at Farrell Fritz to manage the complex task of estate planning. We understand all aspects of estate planning, from transferring the closely-held business to the next generation, to planned giving with an emphasis on minimizing estate, gift and income taxes. Our experience in drafting wills, various types of trusts, pre-nuptial agreements, health care proxies, living wills and powers-of-attorney ensures that our clients' wishes are carried out.