--- title: "New York City Estate Planning Attorney | Wills, Trusts & NY Estate Tax | Legacy Counsel" description: "Fixed-fee New York City estate planning attorney. Wills, revocable trusts, NY estate tax planning, co-op and condo coordination, and Surrogate's Court avoidance for Manhattan, Brooklyn, and NYC professionals and founders." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "LegalService", "@id": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/#legalservice", "name": "Jacobs Legacy Counsel", "alternateName": [ "Legacy Counsel by Jacobs Counsel", "Jacobs Legacy" ], "url": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com", "description": "Fixed-fee estate planning for high-net-worth families, founders, executives, and professional athletes. 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We will tell you plainly if yours do not fit." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How are engagements priced?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Fixed fee, quoted in writing after a scoping call — before any work begins." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "New York Estate Planning", "item": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/new-york-estate-planning-attorney" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "New York Estate Planning Attorney", "item": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/estate-planning-attorney-new-york-ny" } ] } ], { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Estate Planning Attorney NEW York NY", "item": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/estate-planning-attorney-new-york-ny" } ] } ] --- A Practice of [Jacobs Counsel LLC](https://jacobscounsellaw.com) Serving NY · NJ · OH — Vol. 2026 [Legacy Counsel ](/) Firm Resources Estate Planning Trusts [Probate & Admin](/probate-trust-administration)[Pricing](/pricing)[Book Call](https://cal.com/drewjacobs/estate-planning)[Start Intake](/get-started) Menu 1. [Home](/) 2. Estate Planning Attorney NEW York NY New York City · NY Estate Tax · Surrogate's Court Licensed NY · NJ · OH # New York Estate Planning Attorney for Families, Professionals & Business Owners. Legacy Counsel works with New York City professionals, founders, executives, and families on estate plans that account for two New-York-specific realities: the NY estate tax — including its _cliff_ at the basic exclusion amount — and the practicalities of co-op boards, condo associations, and the Surrogate's Court. Fixed-fee engagements, conducted directly by Drew Jacobs. [Start Your Intake](/get-started)[Book a Consultation](https://cal.com/drewjacobs/estate-planning) Drew Jacobs — Admitted in NY, NJ, OH 01 / LOCAL CONTEXT ## Estate planning, grounded in New York. New York City clients tend to fall into a few clear patterns: long-tenured professionals with concentrated equity and significant retirement assets; founders and operators with carried interest, QSBS, or pre-exit equity; first-generation wealth holders with parents and siblings in other states; and families with children whose primary asset is a Manhattan or Brooklyn co-op or condo. What ties those situations together is the NY estate tax — which behaves differently than the federal system — and the fact that NYC real estate, especially co-ops, has unique transfer mechanics that wills and trusts must respect. Probate in NYC runs through the Surrogate's Court in the county of domicile (New York County for Manhattan, Kings County for Brooklyn, and so on), and those courts are notoriously slow. We do not run a volume practice. We engage where the matter benefits from senior-attorney involvement and a careful coordination with your CPA, wealth advisor, and (where applicable) your company's equity and benefits team. 02 / SERVICES ## What we handle for New York clients. Coordinated document sets drafted under New York law. See our [trusts library](/trusts). ### Wills & Guardian Nominations NY-compliant wills with guardian and executor selections. ### Revocable Living Trusts Avoid Surrogate's Court for the assets they hold. ### NY Estate Tax Planning Planning around the NY exclusion and the “cliff.” ### Co-op & Condo Coordination Funding that works with proprietary leases and board approval. ### Founder & Executive Planning RSUs, options, carried interest, QSBS, and pre-exit equity. ### Powers of Attorney & Healthcare Proxy NY short-form POA, healthcare proxy, living will. 03 / NEW YORK CONSIDERATIONS ## What makes New York different. See the full [New York Estate Planning](/new-york-estate-planning-attorney) overview for statewide detail. **NY estate tax has a cliff.** Unlike the federal system, an estate that exceeds the NY basic exclusion amount by more than 5% loses the exclusion entirely and is taxed on the full estate from dollar one. NY also does not allow portability between spouses. For families anywhere near the NY exclusion, the planning math is materially different than the federal-only calculation, and proactive structuring (credit shelter planning, lifetime gifts, and trusts) can be outcome-determinative. NY probate runs through the Surrogate's Court in the county of domicile. The process is public, slow, and procedurally heavy. A properly funded [revocable living trust](/trusts/revocable-living) avoids it for the assets held in the trust. NYC co-ops require special handling: many proprietary leases permit trust ownership only with board approval, and we manage that workflow rather than leaving you to navigate it alone. For founders and executives, advanced structures such as [ILITs](/ilit-attorney), [SLATs](/slat-attorney), and [GRATs](/grat-attorney) can be powerful, but they are tax-sensitive and state-specific. We design and coordinate them with your tax advisor rather than offering one-size-fits-all templates. 04 / WHO THIS IS FOR ## Who we work with in New York. We engage where there is meaningful matter fit — not a volume practice. ### NYC professionals & executives Equity comp and brokerage assets, with NY tax exposure. ### Founders & operators Equity holders coordinating QSBS and gifting trusts. ### Co-op & condo owners Owners who need funding that clears the board. ### Families with minor children Guardian nominations and protective trusts for children. 05 / HOW IT WORKS ## The process. A clear path from first conversation to a funded plan, typically 30–60 days. 1. STEP 01 ### Confidential Intake Assets, family, and goals — reviewed before we speak. 2. STEP 02 ### Strategy Call We map NY tax exposure and co-op mechanics, then recommend. 3. STEP 03 ### Fixed-Fee Proposal Written scope and flat fee. 4. STEP 04 ### Design, Sign & Fund Drafted, executed under NY formalities, and funded. 06 / FAQ ## New York estate planning FAQs. ### What is the New York estate tax cliff? NY imposes an estate tax on estates of NY domiciliaries (and on NY-situs real estate of nonresidents). Unlike the federal system, if an estate exceeds the NY basic exclusion amount by more than 5%, the exclusion is fully phased out and the estate is taxed on its entire value, not just the excess. For estates near the threshold, this can produce a sharp tax outcome. Planning around the cliff is one of the most important NY-specific issues we address. ### Can a New York City co-op be held in a revocable trust? Usually yes, but the proprietary lease requires board approval. We prepare the trust language and the board package. ### How long does probate take in New York? NYC probate runs slower than NJ or OH — often many months. A funded revocable trust is usually the better answer. ### Do I need a SLAT or GRAT as a NYC founder? Only for the right facts — growing wealth and a willingness to make completed gifts. We will tell you plainly if yours do not fit. ### How are engagements priced? Fixed fee, quoted in writing after a scoping call — before any work begins. [Read the full FAQ →](/faq) ## Go deeper. Related Resources [ ### New York Estate Planning The full New York estate planning overview. Read more → ](/new-york-estate-planning-attorney)[ ### New York Estate Planning Guide A deeper guide to New York rules, documents, and process. Read more → ](/new-york-estate-planning-guide)[ ### Trusts Library Revocable, irrevocable, and advanced trust structures. Read more → ](/trusts)[ ### Probate & Trust Administration Guidance for executors and trustees after a death or incapacity. Read more → ](/probate-trust-administration) Begin the Conversation New York · NY ## Build your New York plan with counsel that knows New York. Initial consultations are private and conducted directly by Drew Jacobs — no sales floor, no junior intake. [Start Your Intake →](/get-started)[Book a Consultation](https://cal.com/drewjacobs/estate-planning)[Contact](/contact) **Prospective Client Disclaimer.** Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not send confidential or time-sensitive information until we have signed an engagement letter. We will review your submission and follow up to discuss whether we can represent you. By submitting, you consent to be contacted about your inquiry. **Attorney Advertising.** Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The information on this page is for general informational purposes and is not legal, tax, or investment advice. Drew Jacobs is licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio. Estate planning is highly state-specific; we represent clients whose residence, primary assets, or business interests are situated in NY, NJ, or OH, subject to matter fit and conflict clearance, and coordinate with qualified local counsel elsewhere. Estate Planning & Legacy Counsel Legacy Counsel by Jacobs Counsel. Fixed-fee estate planning, trusts, wills, and generational wealth strategy for high-net-worth families. [← Visit jacobscounsellaw.com](https://jacobscounsellaw.com) [(646) 343-7227](tel:+16463437227)[intake@jacobscounsellaw.com](mailto:intake@jacobscounsellaw.com) 221 River Street, Floor 9 Hoboken, NJ 07030 Practice - [Estate Planning](/estate-planning) - [Trusts](/trusts) - [Probate & Administration](/probate-trust-administration) - [Pricing](/pricing) - [For Advisors](/for-advisors) States - [New Jersey](/estate-planning/new-jersey) - [New York](/estate-planning/new-york) - [Ohio](/estate-planning/ohio) - [State Guides](/resources/state-guides) Resources - [Blog](/blog) - [FAQ](/faq) - [Estate Planning Quiz](/quiz/estate-planning) - [Checklist](/resources/checklist) Firm - [About Drew Jacobs](/about) - [Contact](/contact) - [Start Intake](/get-started) - [Book a Consultation](https://cal.com/drewjacobs/estate-planning) - [Client Questionnaire](/client-questionnaire) Notices - [Privacy Policy](/legal/privacy-policy) - [Legal Disclaimer](/legal/disclaimer) - [Attorney Advertising](/legal/attorney-advertising) © 2026 Legacy Counsel by Jacobs Counsel. All rights reserved. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. **Jurisdiction.** Drew Jacobs is licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio . Estate planning is highly state-specific — laws governing wills, trusts, probate, estate and inheritance tax, and asset protection vary materially by jurisdiction. We represent clients whose residence, primary assets, or business interests are situated in NY, NJ, or OH. For matters involving other states, we coordinate with qualified local counsel. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice or an offer to represent you in a jurisdiction in which we are not licensed.