Trusts & Estates Law Section Albany Networking Reception
Please join the Trusts and Estates Law Section for a networking reception at the New York State Bar Center in Albany, NY. This event is…
Trusts and Estates Law Section 2025 Spring Meeting
May 1 – May 3, 2025
Charleston Place
Charleston, South Carolina
WHO WE ARE
Become a member in one of NYSBA’s largest Sections and share insights as you help make ground- breaking developments happen. Through our members, the Trusts & Estates Sections has a clear record of influencing positive change for the legal industry and legislation, at both the state and federal levels.
Section members may submit articles for publication in the Trusts and Estates Law Section Newsletter and questions for a Q&A column.
Top-notch MCLE programs allow Section members to enjoy both social and substantive aspects of membership. Post practice-related questions or assist other members by participation in the member-only online Community Forum. Join and take full advantage of opportunities to serve on committees, such as Estate Planning, Estate & Trust Administration, Surrogate’s Court or Charitable Planning. Work on projects such as technology for the trusts and estates practice, and ethical checklists for the trusts and estates practitioner.
SECTION BENEFITS
- Continuing legal education programing in all areas of estate planning and administration and estate litigation
- Networking opportunities with local and regional colleagues and Surrogate’s Courts
- Career development
- Serve and grow
- Submit an article for publications in the Trusts & Estates Law Journal
SECTION CONTENT – For Members Only
- Publications, including the quarterly Trusts & Estates Law Journal
- Section online community-communicate with experienced attorneys and professional leaders
Section Committees
Join and take full advantage of opportunities to serve on committees, such as Estate Planning, Estate & Trust Administration, Surrogate’s Court or Charitable Planning. Work on projects such as legislation involving wills and trusts, technology for the trusts and estates practice, and ethical checklists for the trusts and estates practitioner.
Contact the Trusts and Estates Law Section Liaison
To learn more about this Section, please contact Kate Tortora
ktortora@nysba.org
(518) 487-5580
Please do not contact the Section liaison with a request for legal advice or an attorney referral. You can instead visit our ‘Public Resources’ or ‘Lawyer Referral Service’ page for this type of request.
Angelo Grasso
Angelo M. Grasso is a partner at Greenfield Stein & Senior, LLP in New York City; his practice is in trusts & estates litigation and Article 81 guardianships. Angelo graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2002, where he was an associate editor of the American Criminal Law Review, and was admitted to practice in New York in 2003. He received his B.A. from Columbia University, where he wrote his senior thesis on the history of American anarchism.
Angelo is an active member of the trusts and estates community, and is a frequent speaker and writer on a variety of topics related to trusts and estates law and litigation. In addition to being Chair of the Trusts & Estates Law Section, he is the immediate past Chair of the Trusts, Estates, and Surrogate’s Court Committee of the New York City Bar Association. In 2020, he was named a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (“ACTEC”), where he is a member of the State Laws and Digital Property Committees.
Angelo lives in Westchester with his wife Hilary, daughter Zoë, and goldendoodle Cannoli.
Live Events
Register Now
Considerations for Estate Plans with Minors or Special Needs Beneficiaries
This presentation will explore key considerations in estate planning for families with minor children and special needs beneficiaries.Topics include:• Special Needs Trusts (SNTs): Ensuring financial…
20th Annual International Estate Planning Institute
The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and STEP NY are pleased to present the 20th Annual International Estate Planning Institute on Thursday-Friday, March 27-28,…
Trusts & Estates Law Section 2025 Spring Meeting
AccommodationsCharleston Place205 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401Book your hotel room today! Or directly contact the Reservation Office by calling 800.611.5545 or via e-mail at reservations@charlestonplace.com Room…
21st Annual Sophisticated Trusts and Estates Law Institute
Now in its 2st year, this full-day Institute returns with a prestigious national faculty of authorities covering key issues and the latest developments in all…
On Demand Programs
Utilizing AI in Trusts and Estates Practice
This CLE webinar will provide trust and estate attorneys with guidance on the opportunities and challenges in utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in trust and estate…
Basics of Probate and Administration of Decedents' Estates | Practical Skills 2025
This program will cover the practical skills attorneys need to know about the basics of probate and administration of decedents’ estates.Speaker: Tzipora Zelmanowitz, Esq., Greenfield Stein…
Introduction to Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs)
In this CLE webinar, topics to be covered include:1. Introduction to Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs)Overview of SLATs, their purpose, benefits, and basic legal framework.2.…
Basics of Guardianship | Practical Skills 2025
Basics of Guardianship | Practical Skills 2025
2025 NYSBA Annual Meeting
New York State Bar Association Annual Meeting 2025January 14-17, 2025New York Hilton Midtown Join us for the premier legal event of the year, the Annual Meeting…
NYSBA Sections Holiday Party
Come learn more about the benefits of being a NYSBA Section member,help celebrate the end of year holiday season, have fun, and networkat what we…
Basics of Estate Administration - Fall 2024
The death of a client can be a very difficult time for the client’s family. It is important that the attorney correctly advises the client’s…
The Construction and Reformation of Wills and Trusts in Surrogate’s Court
At times, a will or a trust contains language that does not clearly evidence the testator or grantor’s intent. When the language contained in a…
Online Community
Trusts & Estates Law Section Publications
Newly released issues are restricted to Section & Committee Members only for the first 90 days, after which they become available to all members.
Trusts and Estates Law Section Journal
The Trusts and Estates Law Section Journal features peer-written, substantive articles relating to the practice of trusts and estates law on various topics including estate planning, will drafting, tax issues, guardianship, power of attorney, and probates. Recent New York State Decisions, Case Notes—Recent New York State Surrogate’s and Supreme Court Decisions, and a Florida Update are featured in each issue. Edited by Avigail Goldglancz, Esq., the Trusts and Estates Law Section Journal is published quarterly by the Trusts and Estates Law Section and distributed to Section Members free of charge.
The Trusts and Estates Law Section Journal encourages article submissions on topics of interest to members of the Section. Writing an article for a NYSBA Section publication is a great way to get your name out in the legal community and advertise your knowledge. Our authors are respected state-wide for their legal expertise, and have written articles on such topics as estate planning, will drafting, tax issues, guardianship, power of attorney, and probates.
Article Library
Looking for specific articles from our issues? Explore our library of individual articles, available from current and past editions.
View article libraryProposal to Harmonize NYS Debtor Protections for Savings and Retirement Benefits
ESSA-Trusts & Estates Law Section Recommendation and Report Approved by the NYSBA House of Delegates
Equity for Surviving Spouses Act (ESSA) Executive Summary
Trusts & Estates Law Section Memos
Trusts Memo 6 – S5959C
Trusts Memo 7 – Request for further New York Tax Relief thought July 15, 2020
Trusts & Estates Law Section Committee
-
CLE Committee (Trusts & Estates Law)
-
Charitable Planning Committee
-
Diversity Committee (Trusts & Estates Law)
-
Estate & Trust Administration Committee
-
Estate Litigation Committee
-
Estate Planning Committee
-
Executive Committee (Trusts & Estates Law)
-
International Estate Planning Committee
-
Journal and Publications Committee (Trusts & Estates Law)
-
Legislation & Government Relations Committee (Trusts & Estates Law)
-
Life Insurance and Employee Benefits Committee
-
Mediation Committee (Trusts & Estates Law Section)
-
Membership & Law Student Committee (Trusts & Estates Law)
-
Multi-State Practice Committee (Trusts & Estates Law)
-
Older Adults and Individuals With Disabilities Committee
-
Practice and Ethics Committee (Trusts & Estates Law)
-
Sponsorship Committee (Trusts & Estates Law)
-
Surrogates Court Committee
-
Taxation Committee (Trusts & Estates Law)
-
Technology Committee (Trusts & Estates Law)
Awards
2025 Rising Star Fellowship
Applications are open for the 2025 New York State Bar Association Trusts and Estates Rising Star Fellowship. This is a great opportunity for junior attorneys to become an active part of the New York trusts and estates community.
To be eligible for the Fellowship, applicants must have between three (3) and six (6) years of relevant legal experience.
All applications should be sent to the chair of the Membership Committee to Nicole L. Clouthier at nclouthier@woh.com
Deadline: Thursday, October 31, 2024
Fellowships
2025 Trusts and Estates Law Section Fellowship
The Fellowship Program will provide students an opportunity to experience trusts and estates law practice in this public sector. The ultimate goal of the Fellowship is to create a network and forge relationships among trusts and estates law attorneys throughout the State of New York. Fellowships will be offered each Summer (June – August) in various locations across the state in the Chambers of a Surrogate Court Judge. Information on which Surrogates will be hosting Fellowships may be found on the application.
Application Deadline: Monday, February 17, 2025
COVID-19: Execution of Estate Planning Documents: Perspectives and Thoughts on How this Will Affect Our Practice
Speakers:
Jill Beier, Esq., Beier PLLC, Lake Placid, NY
Deborah Kearns, Esq., Chief Clerk, Albany County Surrogates Court
Tara Anne Pleat, Esq., Wilcenski & Pleat, PLLC, Clifton Park, NY
Moderator:
Patricia J. Shevy, Esq., The Shevy Law Firm, LLC, Albany, NY
Power of Attorney Forms- Updated for 2021
New York State recently reformed the statutory short form power of attorney for purposes of financial and estate planning, effective June 13, 2021. The changes are designed to simplify the POA form, allow for substantially compliant language as opposed to exact wording, provide safe-harbor provision for good-faith acceptance of an acknowledged POA, and allow sanctions for those who unreasonably refuse to accept a valid POA. In addition, there are also a number of technical amendments.
Product Features
- This version of the New York State Statutory Power of Attorney is formatted for Microsoft Word or Lexis Nexis.
- Users simply utilize the tab key to enter information into the fields included.
- Suggested language for permissible modifications is provided in a separate document and may be copied and pasted into the Power of Attorney form.
- Frequently Asked Questions are provided to assist with the user experience along with an introduction articulating basic guidance for the form.
Links of Interest
- Internet Law Library: Trusts & Estates
The Internet Law Library was originally provided by the U. S. House of Representatives Law Revision Counsel Office. When the House of Representatives discontinued hosting the Library, several others (including lawguru.com) were allowed to carry it. - Thomas:U.S. House of Representatives’ Resource on Senate & House Bills in the current legislative session.
- FedWorld
Access to government information services including search engines - State Probate Statutes on the Internet
Cornell Law School’s links to sources of state probate law. - Findlaw’s Wills, Trusts, Estates, & Probate Primary Materials and Government Resources, Journals, Newsletters and Articles, Mailing Lists and Usenet Groups.
- New York State Laws
- New York’s Estates, Powers & Trusts Law
- Tax Related Sites
- New IRS home page
with downloadable tax forms and publications. - Cornell’s Federal Estate & Gift Tax Portion of the Internal Revenue Code
- Hypertext Internal Revenue Code
- Tax and Accounting Sites Links to Tax and Accounting Sites Maintained by Dennis Schmidt, Associate Professor of Accounting – University of Northern Iowa.
- New IRS home page
- National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR)composed of local coalitions and immigrant, community, religious, civil rights and labor organizations and activists. It serves as a forum to share information an analysis, to educate communities and the general public, and to develop and coordinate plans of action on important immigrant and refugee issues.
- The Law Engine
This resarch reference site contains many links to law sites, publications, forms, etc - The Federal Courts
- Findlaw’s Supreme Court — Searchable Decisions from 1937 [a free service].
- Federal Courts — Directory of Electronic Public Access Services
- Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decisions from 1990 – present (from Cornell)
- Searchable Supreme Decisions from 1937-1975
- Federal Statutes and Regulations
- Hypertext Internal Revenue Code
- SearchableU.S. Code
- Code of Federal Regulations
- State Law Resources
- New York State Legislative Branch
- New York State Assembly New Web Site & Bill Locator
- New York State Senate Web Site & Gopher
- Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA) — Quick Access to Tax Forms from All States
- ALSO! (American Law Sources On-Line) provides a comprehensive, uniform, and useful compilation of links to all on-line sources of American law that are available without charge (Covers U.S., Canada & Mexico).
- State Information Profiles Service of the NASCIO (state chief information officers).
- New York State Legislative Branch
Some Useful Places To Go for Specific Pieces of Information
- Kelley Blue Book Pricing on new and used cars for those who do not subscribe. Can get car prices for estate tax returns on line.
- IRS Pub. 78 The IRS has published Pub. 78, which lists the charitable exempt organizations, on its web site. There is a search engine, and you can search by name and/or location.
- Savings Bond Info Treasury Department’s Savings Bond info – all you ever wanted to know about the legal and financial aspects of Savings Bonds. Download the Savings Bond Wizard which allows you to mamange a portfolio of bonds in an estate.
- Birth, Death & Marriage Certificates Where to go for those lost birth, death or marriage certificates.
Section Pamplets
LEGALEase Pamphlets produced by the NYSBA Elder and Trusts and Estates Law Sections. Click the link below to download.
Contact Us
"*" indicates required fields
