Estate Planning Attorney in Manhattan, NY

Sophisticated Estate Counsel for New York City Clients

Our Manhattan clients typically arrive with layered financial lives — closely held business interests, significant investment portfolios, real property in multiple states, and beneficiaries whose circumstances require careful coordination. We have been working through precisely these situations since 1986, and the depth of our experience in estate and gift tax planning for ultra-wealthy individuals is reflected in the caliber of the work we deliver.

 

New York's estate tax structure operates independently of the federal system, with its own exemption thresholds and a cliff provision that can expose a larger share of an estate to taxation than many clients anticipate. Planning in this environment requires more than a standard will and revocable trust — it requires a considered strategy built around your specific asset structure, family dynamics, and long-term intentions.

 

We serve Manhattan clients across the full range of estate planning matters:

 

• Estate planning and trust drafting
• Estate and gift tax planning for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals
• Business succession planning
• Charitable planning structures
• Elder law and long-term care planning
• Special needs planning
• Estate administration and probate

How We Work with Manhattan Clients

We understand that clients based in Manhattan may find it more convenient to meet remotely or to visit our Huntington office depending on the nature of the engagement. We accommodate both. Our approach prioritizes a thorough initial consultation — one in which we listen carefully to your circumstances before offering any recommendations.

 

Every strategy we develop is documented and explained in plain English. We believe clients make better decisions when they understand what they are doing and why. That same commitment to clarity carries through to our newsletters and client alerts, all of which are written in-house by our attorneys rather than sourced from outside content providers.

New York Estate Tax — What Manhattan Residents Need to Know

New York imposes its own estate tax with an exemption that is considerably lower than the current federal exemption. As of 2024, the New York State estate tax exemption is $6.94 million — and unlike the federal system, New York does not allow portability of a deceased spouse's unused exemption. For married couples with combined estates above that threshold, this distinction requires deliberate planning.

 

New York also applies what is commonly called the "cliff" — if the taxable estate exceeds 105% of the exemption amount, the exemption itself is eliminated and the entire estate becomes subject to tax from the first dollar. For clients with estates in that range, the difference between a well-structured plan and an unaddressed one can be measured in hundreds of thousands of dollars.

 

We help Manhattan clients navigate these rules through strategies that may include credit shelter trusts, spousal lifetime access trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, and annual gifting programs calibrated to both federal and New York thresholds.