Wills and Trusts Attorney Serving Nassau County and Long Island

Estate planning is not only for the wealthy or the elderly. It is for anyone who has assets they want to protect, people they want to provide for, and preferences about how those things happen — preferences that New York's intestacy laws will not follow if no document exists to express them. Aronow Law P.C. helps Nassau County and Long Island residents create wills, trusts, and Medicaid protection plans that reflect their actual wishes and hold up when they matter most.

Wills vs. Trusts in New York: A Plain-Language Comparison

The most common question in estate planning is whether a will, a trust, or both is the right tool. The answer depends on what you own, who you want to provide for, and what you want to happen — and when.

A will is a legal document that specifies who receives your assets after you die. It goes through probate — New York's court-supervised process for validating the will and distributing the estate. Probate is a matter of public record and takes time. A will does not provide any protection against nursing home costs or Medicaid spend-down during your lifetime.

A revocable living trust holds assets during your lifetime and transfers them to your beneficiaries after death without going through probate. The trust is revocable — you can change or dissolve it at any time. It does not protect assets from Medicaid spend-down because you retain control of the assets during your lifetime.

An irrevocable trust permanently transfers ownership of assets out of your estate. Because you no longer own the assets, they are generally protected from Medicaid spend-down requirements — but only if the trust was established more than five years before a Medicaid application. The five-year look-back period makes timing critical.

For most Nassau County residents, the right estate plan combines a will with one or more trusts, depending on the size of the estate, the presence of a disabled or special-needs family member, the likelihood of future long-term care costs, and the goal of avoiding probate.

Estate Planning Services at Aronow Law

Last Will and Testament — Your Wishes, Documented and Enforceable

A will ensures that your assets go to the people you choose — not the people New York's intestacy statute defaults to. It names an executor to manage the estate, designates guardians for minor children if applicable, and can provide for specific bequests of property, accounts, or personal possessions. Without a valid will, your estate is distributed under New York law regardless of your intentions.

Revocable Living Trusts — Avoid Probate and Maintain Control During Your Lifetime

A revocable living trust holds your assets in a legal structure that transfers to your beneficiaries after death without court involvement. Probate — which can take months and is a matter of public record — is avoided entirely for assets held in the trust. The trust is fully revocable during your lifetime, meaning you retain complete control and can modify or dissolve it at any time. Revocable trusts are particularly valuable for Nassau County residents with real estate, investment accounts, or complex family situations.

Special Needs Trusts — Providing for a Disabled Family Member Without Losing Benefits

Government benefits including Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income have asset limits that disqualify recipients who inherit money or property directly. A special needs trust allows a family to provide financial support to a disabled loved one without disqualifying them from those benefits. The trust supplements what benefits programs provide — it does not replace them. Aronow Law prepares special needs trusts for Nassau County families providing long-term support for a disabled child, sibling, or other family member.

Veterans and Medicaid Trusts — Protecting Assets From Long-Term Care Costs

Long-term care in New York is among the most expensive in the country. Without planning, nursing home costs can exhaust a lifetime of accumulated assets within a few years. Irrevocable Medicaid trusts, established more than five years before a Medicaid application, can protect home equity and other assets from the Medicaid spend-down requirement — preserving them for a surviving spouse or the next generation. Veterans may also qualify for additional benefit programs that interact with Medicaid planning in ways that require careful coordination. Aronow Law structures Medicaid and veterans trusts for Nassau County families with an eye on the five-year look-back window and the specific benefit programs that apply.

Estate Planning After Bankruptcy or Debt Resolution

Clients who have resolved a bankruptcy, an SBA loan default, or a significant debt matter through Aronow Law frequently reach the same realization: they have protected their financial present, but not their financial future. Estate planning is the next step.

A client who has completed a Chapter 7 discharge has eliminated past debt — but without a will or trust in place, the assets they rebuild go back into an unprotected estate that New York's intestacy laws will distribute without instruction. A client who has settled an SBA loan and retained their home now has equity worth protecting from future long-term care costs through Medicaid planning.

Aronow Law handles both. Clients do not need a second firm to move from debt resolution into estate planning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Real Estate Law in Nassau County

The Closing Requires an Attorney. Make It One Who Knows the Full Picture.

Aronow Law P.C. handles real estate closings, co-op and condo transactions, and the full range of real estate litigation for Nassau County and Long Island clients — alongside bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and debt resolution when those issues are also present. The consultation is free and has no time limit.