Suffolk County Estate Planning, Probate, and Guardianship Lawyer

Estate planning, probate, and guardianship attorney in Suffolk County

An estate plan is a set of decisions about who will care for your children, who will manage your affairs if you cannot, and who will receive what you have built. Beau Taylor Law, PLLC prepares plans for individuals and families across Suffolk County, guides executors and families through Surrogate's Court after a death, and handles Article 81 guardianship proceedings for adults who can no longer manage on their own.

Wills and trusts

Every adult should have a will. It names an executor, directs how property passes, and, for parents of minor children, names a guardian. Without one, New York's intestacy rules decide for you. For many families, a revocable living trust adds privacy, avoids probate for assets placed in the trust, and simplifies administration. The firm also prepares supplemental needs trusts for beneficiaries with disabilities and trusts for minors.

• Last will and testament
• Revocable living trusts
• Supplemental needs trusts
• Trusts for minor children
• Beneficiary designation review
• Plans for second marriages and blended families

Powers of attorney and health care proxies

A durable power of attorney lets someone you trust handle your finances if you become unable to. A health care proxy names the person who will make medical decisions, and a living will records your wishes. These documents are inexpensive, and their absence is the most common reason families end up in guardianship court. The firm prepares them using New York's current statutory forms.

Probate and estate administration

When a loved one dies, the estate usually must go through Suffolk County Surrogate's Court in Riverhead: probate if there is a will, administration if there is not. The firm handles the petition, notices to interested parties, collection and valuation of assets, creditor claims, estate tax issues, and final distribution, so the executor or administrator can carry out the job without becoming a target.

• Probate of a will
• Administration of an intestate estate
• Small estate (voluntary administration) proceedings
• Executor and administrator guidance
• Accountings
• Ancillary probate for out of state decedents with Long Island property

Contested estates and Surrogate's Court litigation

Estate disputes are family disputes with money attached. The firm represents beneficiaries, executors, and heirs in contested Surrogate's Court matters, including will contests based on lack of capacity or undue influence, objections to accountings, claims that a fiduciary has mismanaged or taken estate assets, turnover proceedings, and disputes over the sale of estate property.

Article 81 guardianship

When an adult can no longer manage personal or financial affairs because of dementia, illness, or injury, a family member or facility may petition the Supreme Court under Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law for the appointment of a guardian. The firm represents petitioners seeking to protect a loved one and also represents the alleged incapacitated person. Beau Taylor is appointed by the Suffolk County Supreme Court to serve as Court Evaluator in Article 81 proceedings, the neutral who investigates and reports to the court, which gives the firm an inside understanding of what judges need to see.

• Guardianship petitions for family members
• Representation of the alleged incapacitated person
• Guardianship of the person, the property, or both
• Guardian reporting and annual accountings
• Contested guardianships

Estate planning for business owners

If you own a business, your estate plan and your business succession plan must work together: who takes over, how the business is valued, and how a buyout is funded. The firm's business practice and estate practice coordinate so that nothing is left to chance.