Knowing you need a trust is step one. Knowing what to bring and what to decide before your appointment is what turns a consultation into an actionable plan. Morgan Legal Group, led by Russel Morgan, Esq., works with clients across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and Upstate New York.
What to Prepare Before Your Appointment
| Step | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| List all assets (real property, accounts, business interests) | Determines whether a revocable living trust or an irrevocable trust fits your goals |
| Identify potential trustees and successor trustees | Trustees carry strict fiduciary duties — prudent-investor standard and duty of loyalty under EPTL Article 11-A |
| Clarify estate size vs. the 2026 NY exclusion ($7,350,000; cliff at $7,717,500) | Estates over the cliff forfeit the entire exemption — irrevocable structures may be critical |
| Note any disabled beneficiaries | A Supplemental Needs Trust under EPTL 7-1.12 preserves Medicaid and SSI eligibility |
| Decide: trust vs. will | A trust avoids Surrogate’s Court probate and stays private; see our trust vs. will guide |
Once these are clear, your attorney can design the right structure under EPTL Article 7 and connect it to your broader trust administration plan.
Book a 30-Minute Appointment with Russel Morgan, Esq.
Further reading from Morgan Legal Group: New York estate planning.