Precision matters in estate planning. A single structural misstep — an improperly funded revocable trust, a Medicaid look-back violation, or an asset inadvertently left outside an irrevocable vehicle — can undo years of planning and expose an estate to avoidable tax or litigation.
Morgan Legal Group schedules every engagement as a structured professional review, not a general conversation. Attorney Russel Morgan, Esq. evaluates your situation against current New York law before a single document is drafted.
What We Review at Your Consultation
| Planning Goal | Governing Framework | Key Risk Point |
|---|---|---|
| Probate avoidance & incapacity | Revocable living trust — EPTL Art. 7 | Trust must be funded; assets held outside remain subject to probate |
| Estate-tax reduction & asset protection | Irrevocable trust — EPTL Art. 7 | Medicaid look-back: 60-month penalty window |
| Preserving means-tested benefits | Special Needs Trust — EPTL § 7-1.12 | Incorrect drafting voids Medicaid/SSI protection |
| Trust vs. Will decision | Comparative analysis | Wills are public record; trusts are private and bypass Surrogate’s Court |
| Ongoing fiduciary compliance | Trust administration — EPTL Art. 11-A | Trustee duty of loyalty, prudent-investor standard, and duty to account |
Note on the 2026 NY estate-tax cliff: The New York basic exclusion is $7,350,000. Estates exceeding 105% of that threshold ($7,717,500) lose the entire exemption — not just the excess. Proper trust structuring is the most reliable compliance safeguard.
Schedule your consultation with Russel Morgan, Esq.
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