This site is published by Morgan Legal Group, a New York estate planning and probate practice led by attorney Russel Morgan. Its purpose is to give New Yorkers accurate, statute-grounded answers about wills, trusts, probate, and the Surrogate’s Court system — starting with the question almost every guide ignores: which “New York” your estate actually belongs to. Every page is written from New York law (the EPTL and SCPA), not generic national templates.
The attorney behind the content
Russel Morgan founded Morgan Legal Group and leads its estate planning and probate practice. He is admitted to practice law in New York and concentrates on wills, trusts, estate administration, Medicaid asset protection, and Surrogate’s Court matters. His work centers on the realities New Yorkers actually face — co-op and condo title transfer, the New York estate tax cliff, and the county-by-county venue rules that confuse so many families.
Bar admission and credential details are stated as verifiable facts; consult the firm or the New York attorney directory to confirm current standing.
Our approach to “New York” estate planning
Most estate-planning content treats “New York” as one place. We don’t. The defining feature of this resource is that it resolves the ambiguity first — New York County (Manhattan), New York City’s five boroughs, and New York State’s 62 counties each route an estate to a different Surrogate’s Court under the SCPA 205 domicile rule. Get that wrong and even a perfect will lands in the wrong courthouse. We build every explanation around identifying the right court, the right statute, and the right asset strategy for your specific situation — see our complete New York estate guide for how the disambiguation drives every decision.
Why trust this information
- New York-specific. Every page cites the controlling statute — EPTL 3-2.1 for wills, EPTL 4-1.1 for intestacy, SCPA 1402 for probate, SCPA 2307 for executor commissions — paired with a plain-English explanation.
- Experience-led. The guidance reflects real Surrogate’s Court practice, including the co-op transfers and estate-tax cliff exposure that dominate New York City estates.
- Honest about uncertainty. Where figures change annually (estate-tax exemptions, fee tiers), we flag them rather than state a number that may be stale.
Entity and network references
Morgan Legal Group maintains a consistent professional identity across its New York practice. For the firm’s primary presence, see morganlegalny.com and the firm’s Google Business and legal-directory profiles. Consistent entity data helps both search engines and readers confirm that the same New York practice stands behind this content.
Service area
Morgan Legal Group advises clients across New York on estate planning and probate, including matters before the New York County Surrogate’s Court at 31 Chambers Street and the other county Surrogate’s Courts that handle estates by domicile. Whether your “New York” is Manhattan, another borough, or a county elsewhere in the state, the firm’s focus is the same body of law.
Editorial standard
The information here is reviewed for consistency with New York law by a New York-licensed attorney. It is educational, not legal advice — your situation may turn on facts this site can’t anticipate. For guidance tailored to your estate, speak with counsel.
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