Long Island Trust Lawyers

Accredited Estate Planner® Serving Nassau & Suffolk County Families

A trust is a legal arrangement in which you transfer assets to a trustee to manage and distribute to your named beneficiaries according to your instructions. It’s one of the most consequential documents in any estate plan, shaping how your assets are protected, distributed, and taxed. At Adler Law Firm, PLLC, founding attorney Steven M. Adler, Esq. holds the Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designation from the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils and brings over 35 years of experience in estate planning, probate, real estate, and business law. When you come to us for trust work, you work directly with an attorney from the first conversation through execution.

Our attorneys bring more than 50 years of combined professional experience, and our clients consistently describe the process as prompt, professional, and stress-free. One client noted their documents were “promptly prepared and executed.” That’s the standard we hold ourselves to for Long Island families we serve.

Call us today at (516) 740-1184 to speak with a trust attorney on Long Island about your questions and goals.

Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts

Most trusts fall into two primary categories, each with its own consequences for control, taxes, and probate:

• Revocable trusts – These can be amended or dissolved by the grantor at any time during their lifetime. Assets held in a revocable trust remain part of your taxable estate, but they generally pass to beneficiaries without going through the Nassau County or Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court probate process.
• Irrevocable trusts – These typically can’t be altered or revoked after funding. Because assets are removed from your personal estate, an irrevocable structure may support asset protection and, in some circumstances, Medicaid eligibility planning under New York law.

The choice between these structures carries immediate tax and control consequences. Each family’s situation is different, and the right approach depends on your assets, your beneficiaries, and your long-term goals. Our trust attorneys on Long Island can walk you through both options before any documents are drafted.

Common Types of Trusts

There is a wide variety of trust structures, and each can be tailored to address specific planning goals. We work with Long Island families across the full range of trust types.

Trust arrangements we handle include:

• Revocable living trusts, which allow you to avoid probate, retain control of your assets during your lifetime, and plan for incapacity
• Irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), which transfer life insurance policy ownership to the trust and keep the proceeds outside your taxable estate
• Special needs trusts, which set aside assets for a loved one with a disability without disqualifying them from Medicaid or SSI benefits
• Charitable trusts, structured to benefit qualifying nonprofit organizations while potentially providing tax advantages to you as the grantor
• Dynasty trusts, designed to transfer wealth across multiple generations while limiting estate tax exposure at each generational transfer
• Testamentary trusts, created through a will and taking effect after death, frequently used for minor children or beneficiaries who need structured distributions