Brooklyn Probate Lawyer

When a loved one passes away in New York, the probate process can be complicated and overwhelming. Dealing with court filings, asset inventories, and other matters, all while you’re grieving, can be challenging. At Polizzotto & Polizzotto, LLC, we’ve guided Brooklyn families through probate law since 1962. 

We are a family-owned firm that has served our community for three generations. We understand that these matters are more than just filing paperwork. They’re about protecting what your family built. Our Brooklyn probate lawyer can help you do just that.

Our Brooklyn estate planning lawyers are knowledgeable in all aspects of estate administration, including probate. We can help you distribute your loved one’s assets according to his or her wishes or challenge those wishes under qualified circumstances. 

What Is Probate?

Probate is the court-supervised process of validating a will and administering the estate so assets can be distributed according to its terms. While this process is often a simple matter when there is a valid will, disputes can arise among beneficiaries and other relatives.

Our firm commonly handles probate disputes involving the following claims:

• The will was not executed properly
• The will’s creator did not have the capacity to write a will or make significant changes to the will
• The will’s creator was under the influence of a family member to change or add a beneficiary to the will
• The executor lacks the capacity to properly administer the estate
• The will failed to include a close family member as a beneficiary

We assist families whose loved ones passed away with a valid will. We can help with all estate administration issues, from the initial inventory of all the assets to the final distribution. We will review your situation and, if necessary, represent your interests in the Surrogate’s Court.

How a Brooklyn Probate Lawyer Will Help You

Each step of the probate process has its own paperwork, deadlines, and potential pitfalls. Our probate lawyers in Brooklyn can guide you through every step of your case, taking the following steps on your behalf:

• File the probate petition and get the will admitted to the Surrogate’s Court
• Answer any questions you have about probate forms
• Help the executor obtain letters testamentary and understand their legal duties
• Provide assistance with living trusts, asset protection, and your loved one’s last will and testament
• Locate and inventory the estate’s assets, from bank accounts to real property
• Notify beneficiaries and creditors, and resolve claims against the estate
• Settle outstanding debts and estate taxes before distribution
• Distribute assets to beneficiaries and formally close the estate

We have a deep understanding of elder law, estate planning, probate, and estate administration in New York. Our firm is here to provide the legal assistance you need to face court proceedings, probate litigation, and wherever your case takes us.

With 50 years of combined experience, we have what it takes to handle probate and estate administration cases, giving you the clear and honest guidance you need to navigate this challenging moment in your life.

Why Choose Our Firm?

We are a family-owned firm with multi-generational leadership. Our lead attorney, Alfred Polizzotto III, learned this practice from the ground up. He worked in his father’s office from age 15 and became an attorney in 1990. Since then, he has expanded the firm into elder law, Medicaid planning, and other estate planning services.

He’s also a certified financial planner. This is a rare combination that matters in probate. He can draw on his experience to protect a surviving spouse’s assets, plan for long-term care, or keep the next generation out of court entirely.

Our Brooklyn probate attorneys are honest about whether you need us at all. We don’t take cases just to generate fees, and we don’t drag matters out to bill more hours. If there’s a simple path, we’ll tell you. Our transparency is how we earn referrals and why clients of every financial standing trust us with what matters most.

How the Probate Process Works in New York

Our probate attorneys in Brooklyn have extensive experience with estate planning and probate in New York. We know what to expect and how to prepare. We’ll guide you through the following steps:

• Filing the petition: The executor named in the will files a probate petition with the Surrogate’s Court in the county where the deceased lived.
• Notifying interested parties: Heirs and beneficiaries must be formally notified. Those with a legal interest in the estate also have an opportunity to raise objections before the will is admitted.
• Validating the will: The court reviews the will to confirm it was properly executed and that the person who created it had the capacity to do so. If no one contests it, the will is admitted to probate.
• Appointing the executor: The court issues letters testamentary, which give the executor legal authority to act on behalf of the estate.
• Inventorying assets and paying debts: The executor gathers and values the estate’s assets, then pays valid creditor claims, final expenses, and any estate taxes owed.
• Distributing the estate: Once debts and taxes are settled, the remaining assets are distributed to beneficiaries according to the will’s terms. Once that is completed, the estate is closed.

We’ve served families like yours in Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, Sheepshead Bay, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and throughout Brooklyn since 1962. Meet with us to learn more about how our family-oriented team can help you.

Schedule a Consultation With a Trusted Probate Lawyer in Brooklyn 

You don’t have to face probate alone. When you contact Polizzotto & Polizzotto, LLC, we’ll review your situation honestly and tell you exactly where you stand, even if the answer is that you can handle it without us.

For decades, our firm has operated by our founder’s philosophy: “always do right by our clients.” Let us put that commitment to work for your family. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how our Brooklyn probate lawyer can help you.