Wills Lawyer in New York City

As part of our Estate & Family Planning practice, we help clients create a will — a legal document that states who receives your property when you die and, for parents, who would raise your minor children if something happened to you. A will only works if it's executed correctly: New York requires you to sign it in front of two witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit can save your family a court appearance later. Without a valid will, New York's intestacy laws decide who inherits — not you, and not necessarily who you'd choose.

Here’s how this typically works in New York:

1. We talk through your wishes — who inherits what, and who would raise your children if something happened to you.
2. We draft the will to reflect exactly those wishes under New York law.
3. You sign the will in front of two witnesses, as New York law requires.
4. We prepare a self-proving affidavit so your witnesses won't need to appear in court later.
5. Your signed original is stored safely, and you know exactly where it is.

• After having a child, so you can legally name a guardian
• After buying a home or building up meaningful savings or assets
• After a marriage, divorce, or remarriage — especially if you're blending families
• As soon as you realize you don't have one; there's no minimum net worth required to need a will
• When your existing will hasn't been reviewed in several years