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Suffolk County Estate Litigation

Suffolk County Lawyer for Will and Trust Disputes

Suffolk County is a suburban county on Long Island in New York. As of 2010, there were 1,493,350 people in Suffolk County, making it the largest county on Long Island, the fourth most populated county in the state, and one of the most populous counties in the country. Suffolk County is home to several scientific research facilities, including Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and the Animal Disease Center. With a median household income of $84,767, Suffolk County was listed among the 25 richest counties in the country in 2008 by Forbes Magazine. The median age in the county is 36 years old, but around 11.8% of the population are elderly residents above the age of 65. When people in Suffolk County pass away, their family members may engage in heated and acrimonious disputes about how their property should be distributed. Sometimes the decedent has put in place a valid will or trust, but in other cases, testamentary documents have been made under suspicious circumstances or failed to account for assets or otherwise give rise to controversy. If you question choices in your loved one’s will or trust, seasoned Suffolk County estate litigation attorney Jules Haas can provide advice regarding your legal rights.

Suffolk County Estate Litigation

Estate litigation may involve issues such as will contests, trust contests, improper accounting of assets, breach of fiduciary duty by an executor or administrator, breach of fiduciary duty by a guardian or agent under a power of attorney, disputes related to charitable trusts or grants, and issues concerning valuation of assets, the timeliness of asset sales and distribution, and hidden assets or theft of assets.

A will contest or trust contest is a challenge to estate planning instruments, usually brought by a family member when a decedent has disinherited him or her in the will or trust. These challenges can be brought on various grounds including fraud, lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, or improper execution. For example, if an elderly person with Alzheimer’s disinherits her only daughter while leaving everything to a caregiver, the daughter may bring a will contest alleging lack of testamentary capacity or undue influence. A knowledgeable estate litigation lawyer serving Suffolk County could assist with a legal action of this nature.

Both wills and trusts need to be properly executed to be valid. In order for a will to be properly executed, the testator should have signed the will in the presence of two witnesses, or the witnesses should both acknowledge the signature as her signature. The testator needs to make a declaration to the witnesses that the document is her will, and each witness should sign the will within 30 days of each other.

Disputes Over Real Property

Settling an estate in Suffolk County may not be simple. After someone dies, all of his or her possessions, including real property, become a part of their estate. In the course of estate administration, an administrator or executor gathers assets and manages the estate. He or she may need to pay off debts and taxes, and distribute assets. Often decedents pass away holding real estate. The real estate may be held in trust by a trustee. In other cases it is held jointly, and passes automatically to a joint owner upon death.

Under certain circumstances, a homeowner may pass away and his or her tenants may remain on their property. One responsibility of a fiduciary may be to gather estate assets. Usually this is a straightforward process, but sometimes it is more complicated because real property (or other property) was diverted from the decedent or estate by a third party. If someone inherits the house, it may become necessary for a fiduciary to file a turnover proceeding in Landlord-Tenant Court or Surrogate’s Court, and a Suffolk County estate litigation attorney can help. When a fiduciary isn’t sure whether a third party has the property, the third party may be ordered before the Court for examination. However, if the fiduciary knows the third party has estate property, the Court can hold a hearing to determine whether it belongs to the estate. Often a turnover proceeding is one in which an estate fiduciary petitions the Court to order a third party to turn over property that is in the third party’s possession.

Suffolk County Attorney for Estate Litigation Matters

It’s common for emotionally sensitive controversies to arise in connection with a loved one’s estate. Sometimes long-buried family disputes rise to the surface and the result is protracted and acrimonious litigation. Whether you need to pursue or defend against estate litigation in Suffolk County, you can consult lawyer Jules Haas. Mr. Haas reviews cases free of charge, and offers clients reasonable fee structures and personal representation. He has represented people in areas including Suffolk County for more than thirty-five years. You can call us at (212) 355-2575 or complete our online form for a free consultation.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
I am very grateful to Mr. Jules Martin Haas attorney of law in New York. I am from Buenos Aires Argentina. He managed with expertise a very difficult situation. of a complicate heritage from my aunt Anna Grodzka that lived and died a very long time ago in New York. I recommend him not only for his extraordinary knowledge but also for his kindness. Irma CW Peusner
★★★★★
I found Mr. Haas after being misguided by a former attorney. Mr. Jules Haas took our case which involved an estate/trust dispute. What initially seemed like an impossible and overwhelming legal fight was now in the hands of someone who had the integrity and legal expertise to win our case. Mr Haas' attention to detail and his expert knowledge base, skillfully and successfully guided us through an intricate legal process. I am very thankful and grateful to Mr. Jules Haas for representing our interest and ultimately winning. Bringing about a peace of mind we needed. Thank You Devida Nedd
★★★★★
I was in need of a guardianship attorney and I hired the services of Jules M. Haas' Law firm. The service of counselor Haas and his staff, was very profesional and the case was handled in a timely matter. I would strongly recommend his services Angel Guevara
★★★★★
I strongly recommend Jules Haas. I have worked with him for two years and he has provided so much support and followed through with everything he promised he would do. His support staff is just as helpful! We had an interesting case and he helped to solve each part of it legally and was very thorough. Thank you for everything you have done to finalize our families estate Robyn Stafford
★★★★★
Jules Haas helped me with managing the process in probate court for my father's estate through to its completion upon the sale of my father's house. He was knowledgeable, efficient, and effective in submitting documentation to the probate court, explaining procedures to me, and advising me as to the progress of my case. His support staff was also very helpful. He made what for me created so much anxiety into something manageable where I could see progress every step of the way. His fees were very reasonable. I am super grateful to him for all the help he has provided and strongly recommend his services. Diana Janer
★★★★★
I just completed an estate transaction where Jules Haas represented my client in an estate and he did a great job! He was very quick at responding to all matters throughout the sale process, he was detailed, he was knowledgeable and he was a pleasure to work with. I just recommended him to some new clients who are going through an estate matter and will continue to recommend him. Rodolfo Lucchese