Complex estates demand more than a standard template. High-net-worth principals, business owners, and blended families throughout New York State work with Russel Morgan, Esq. to build wills engineered for durability — documents that hold up to contested probate, spousal elections, and multi-jurisdictional assets.
What to Expect at Your Consultation
We assess your full picture before a word is drafted: ownership structures, beneficiary tiers, prior trusts, and potential vulnerability to a surviving spouse’s statutory right of election under EPTL § 5-1.1-A. The result is a testamentary instrument built to satisfy every execution requirement of EPTL § 3-2.1 — two attesting witnesses, publication, testator signature at the end — and structured to survive Surrogate’s Court scrutiny at probate.
Key Facts About Your NY Will
| Requirement | Authority |
|---|---|
| Minimum two attesting witnesses | EPTL § 3-2.1 |
| Testator signs at the end of the instrument | EPTL § 3-2.1 |
| Witnesses must sign within one 30-day period | EPTL § 3-2.1 |
| Intestacy rules apply without a valid will | EPTL Article 4 |
| Will takes effect only at death; probate required | NY Surrogate’s Court |
A living will governs health-care decisions and is entirely separate from your property will — both belong in a complete plan. Without any will, EPTL Article 4 intestacy dictates who inherits, removing your choices entirely.
Schedule a 30-minute strategy session with Russel Morgan, Esq.
Further reading from Morgan Legal Group: key things to know about writing a will.