Estate Administration

When a family member or loved one dies, the executor or administrator of his/her estate or the trustee of his/her trust is responsible for managing and distributing the assets. What happens when you are named as executor, administrator or trustee?

Schwartzapfel Partners specializes in providing legal assistance to newly appointed fiduciaries. Our qualified lawyers are aware of the difficult situation that fiduciaries may find themselves in.

In addition to the grief that is caused by the loss of a loved one, executors, administrators and trustees are required to quickly learn the legal procedures necessary to ensure a smooth estate administration. We provide a place to turn to for answers during the complex probate process.

Our legal team will assist you with the necessary fiduciary duties. These include marshalling the assets of the estate (including liquidating any stocks or insurance policies), setting up an estate bank account and securing and appraising any personal and real estate property. We can assist you if you are named the administrator of an estate (if the deceased died without leaving a will) or if you are the fiduciary of an estate with an ambiguous will or trust document.

Are you confused about your new duties as an executor, administrator or trustee? We can help. Schwartzapfel Partners represents fiduciaries defending themselves against claims against either him/her or the estate. In the course of managing and distributing an estate's assets, a fiduciary may need to defend against suits brought by disappointed inheritors and creditors who question the fiduciary's performance. As detailed in the breach of fiduciary responsibility section, fiduciaries can be sued for various reasons including the suspicion of self-dealing and financial negligence. Our lawyers will help you defend against such claims and assist with accounting for the estate's assets.

When a will is contested, the executor can often be caught in the middle. The executor can be accused of wrongdoing and can even be called to testify. The executor will need to talk to a lawyer with expertise not only in estate planning but also in defense litigation.

The Schwartzapfel Partners legal team frequently appears in these cases in all of the Surrogate's Courts in the New York metropolitan area, as well as the Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland and Orange counties.

If you suspect that an estate's assets have been handled incorrectly, unfairly or illegally, please call us at 1.800.966.4999 or fill out the form to the right of the page for immediate attention to your case.

Schwartzapfel Partners

With over 150 years of combined experience and highly competent co-counsel throughout the country, we can serve all your legal needs. Schwartzapfel Partners protects the rights of those who aren't able to do so themselves. Learn More

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