Lawyers map
>38
experienced lawyers
Filter by
22 Jul, 2024 by Lilianna palumbo
Kevin Kelly is one of the most personable individuals I have ever met. His consistency in professionalism and knowledge makes you feel secure, knowing that he is doing everything in his power to help you. He responds to emails and texts quickly, and makes sure to reassure you when you don’t understand something. I could not have asked for a better lawyer to handle my case, and he will be the first I call if I ever need help again. I would recommend Kevin Kelly to everyone, he is amazing.
Read more
12 May, 2024 by Gio palumbo
Very professional and knowledgeable, knew exactly how to help my family and a great guy to work with.
Read more
01 Apr, 2022 by Tim lago
Kevin helped me close on a major business transaction. It was complicated, and he always provided insightful guidance through it all.. I can highly recommend him.
Read more
21 Nov, 2023 by Mel
Beth represented us in the purchase of a home near Ithaca. We came from out of state and were unfamiliar with the intricacies of purchasing a home in NY. Beth was helped us navigate the contract and was instrumental in moving the process along to preserve our mortgage rate lock. Looking forward to working with Beth in the future for other legal needs.
Read more
30 Jul, 2023 by Anthony arcangeli
Amazing service, very friendly, competitive pricing, hard working, easy to get ahold of. Beth is amazing!! So happy we went with Beth while purchasing our new home.
Read more
13 Feb, 2023 by Shelley perlmutter
Beth Silverberg represented us in the sale of our home. She was knowledgeable, professional and pleasant. Beth was easy to reach, and answered all our questions in a timely manner. I highly recommend Beth Silverberg.
Read more
08 Jul, 2024 by Binod acharya
08 Jul, 2024 by Amanda
08 Jul, 2024 by Chuck reed
Good estate Lawyers, very knowledgeable
Read more
06 Feb, 2015 by Greg
Ms. Mazza's law office was one of the ones available through my employer's legal benefit. I had little other information to go on, but I liked the idea of working with a local company that has been here for 3 generations. The experience exceeded my expectations in several ways.
Ms. Mazza was able to schedule me in on relatively short notice before I had to travel for a business trip. She even offered (and managed) to get my will back to me in less than 24 hours, so that I could sign it and have it legal and binding before I went out of the country. She clarified several points about how wills are structured that had been unclear to me, and made several recommendations for "good practice" that fit well with my wishes and needs. I didn't have a chance to test the depth of her knowledge in detail (my only reason for not posting excellent there as well - I simply don't know).
Beyond the will itself, she and the office staff were very friendly and welcoming and made me feel strongly that I had chosen the right place.
Read more
31 Oct, 2016 by Anonymous
Sally has always been honest, trustworthy, dependable and has guided me through some challenging legal situations. She is also wonderful with sensitive family issues.
Read more
13 May, 2020 by Jonsey jones
29 Dec, 2020 by Chuck reed
Good estate Lawyers, very knowledgeable
Read more
12 Jun, 2019 by Binod acharya
31 Dec, 2017 by Amanda
08 Jul, 2024 by Casey johnson
08 Jul, 2024 by Amanda rohrberger
I worked with Jake McNamara on my personal injury lawsuit. It was a complex case for a variety of reasons. Jake devoted an exceptional amount of time and energy into my case. He kept me informed throughout and seemed invested in getting me an outcome I was happy with.
Read more
08 Jul, 2024 by Darius lind
06 Aug, 2024 by Mary zebell
Sharon is patient, knowledgeable and really a lovely person. Highly recommended for Will and Estate Planning.
Read more
08 Jul, 2024 by Kj coull
Excellent. They have/are in the process of helping me with a real estate transaction that has become more complicated than it should have been. Their prices are reasonable and the office is professional and responsive. Both Deanna and Sharon have responded to all of my numerous questions thoroughly and in a timely manner. Would use again in a heartbeat and will recommend to my friends. A+
Read more
08 Jul, 2024 by Aurora rome
08 Jul, 2024 by Casey johnson
08 Jul, 2024 by Manuela amzallag
I worked with Aubrey Hetznecker on a case involving damage to the road bordering my property. Audrey was very thorough, knowledgeable, communicative and patient throughout the process with the parties involved. I am very pleased and highly recommend her work and the law firm she is affiliated with. Thank you Aubrey for resolving this arduous issue with such professionalism !
Read more
08 Jul, 2024 by Adam blakeslee
I would highly recommend Jeffrey Walker and Sujata Gibson (as well as the rest of the team) to anyone seeking experienced legal representation that is fair, honest and will keep your best interest and unique needs at the forefront.
Read more
30 Jul, 2024 by Debbie hall-ryan
I would highly recommend this law office. We have used them a couple of times and they are professional, prompt, caring and very helpful. Excellent office.
Read more
24 Jul, 2024 by Loafus crambuckle
Blonde middle aged lady with the bad fake lashes at the front is a major grouch and makes coming here a dreadful experience. I’ll change my review once she’s finally gone. (Which probably won’t take long)
Read more
08 Jul, 2024 by Ian quinn
08 Jul, 2024 by Richard langendoerfer
Littman & Babiarz is an out standing firm. I have been a client for a long time. There the best in the area. They have helped me meny times with my case. There staff is very knowlagable and friendly. There fast when you need help. I recammend there firm very highly. I say don't listen to one post. Call them and see for yourself.
Read more
08 Jul, 2024 by Ypcconcierge ypcmedia
08 Jul, 2024 by Kimberly armitagr
30 Sep, 2018 by Seth
I had a hard time getting a hold of anna as I live in owego. Because of her poor communication I used someone else
Read more
30 Jan, 2017 by Anonymous
Ms. Smith provided excellent service on a complicated matter that involved myself and 2 other parties. Due to the time sensitivity of the matter Ms. Smith made herself available on very short notice. Due to confidentiality, I can only say that the two other parties used her services but are older / incapacitated and/or not able to post. On behalf of all 3 parties, I have been given permission to post and say that we would use her services again.
Read more
02 Nov, 2014 by Zhallena
Anna Smith is an amazing lawyer. She is easy to talk to, organized, trustworthy and very knowledgeable. She is a breath of fresh air when it comes to working with a lawyer in the Ithaca area. Im thankful to have worked with Anna and I highly recommend her expertise to anyone looking for a lawyer with her experiences.
Read more
27 Oct, 2020 by Anonymous
After asking for a review of directions was met with condescending disdain:
This is not rocket science. You initial the lines in front of Paragraphs: A, D, F and M WHILE IN FRONT OF THE NOTARY. You then sign the POA (above where your name is printed) WHILE IN FRONT OF THE NOTARY….
I’m not sure what is getting lost in the translation. The notary then notarizes your signature and BOOM, you are done….. I cannot even imagine what you did wrong, since it is so basic.
Best regards,
Sharon
Read more
26 Apr, 2013 by Peggy
I've been fortunate to have worked with Sharon on several real estate transactions, a few of them current -- she's been very good to work with, a good listener, a good counselor. She and her office manage the multiple facets of each transaction with careful attention to detail, and with a minimum of melodrama. Her focus is on serving her clients well AND having everyone leave the closing table feeling they've been treated fairly. I highly recommend her!
Read more
03 Nov, 2010 by Kathy
Sharon has provided our business with several different legal services and has been extremely responsive and concerned for our needs.
Read more
24 Dec, 2015 by Michell
Was very aggressive with my case when I wanted to negotiate and be collaborative. I didn't want to burn bridges but John did. He is not who you want if you want to work with the other side again. I regret this action entirely even though, on paper, I "won."
Read more
12 Sep, 2014 by Anonymous
John Hinchcliff has been my attorney for years and seems to me to be the perfect attorney. I recently had to hire an attorney in another state and realized again how special John is. I have recommended him to 3 other clients who are also extremely satisfied. He is truly excellent.
Read more
03 Jul, 2014 by Anonymous
John violated a few ethics rules - nothing major but it made me nervous - and was hyper aggressive in his writings. He came off a little ambulance chaser-y. I would not work with him again.
Read more
02 Mar, 2023 by Anonymous
He worked with a business owner to re-write an abstract and take from a disabled home owner. He took advantage of that's owners blindness to alter the abstract and sell that altered land to another apartment owner who had no property but the land under that apartment building.
Once the transfer was complete, then his closing papers were given to the blind owner 3 years after the original closing; the business man he represented said he was just holding onto the papers for the blind person, but he intended on altering papers for his greed, and John Aolbanese was more than willing to have his buisness and still holds onto all those papers, including the abstract that never got filed.
Do not do buisness with this man, he has no morals.
Read more
01 Dec, 2014 by Anonymous
Very slow to respond to phone calls. Incompetent staff. Did not show up on the closing day, instead he sent his assistant 1.5 hrs late. It was very embarrassing and unprofessional.
Read more
17 Jun, 2013 by Anonymous
Has staff not competent to handle some of the basics--i.e., did not get back to me in time, despite repeated calls on my part, about amount needed to bring to closing (didn't seem to understand the urgency of that); and didn't know how to contact or conduct information to key players (i.e., the mortgage company). Mr. Albanese himself was rude, cavalier, and unhelpful when my closing could not conclude as planned due to lack of timely response from his office and lack of proper flow of information. Had an adverse effect on the sellers as well (who had to postpone their own scheduled closing as a result). When parts of the process still needed to be dealt with, he simply left the sellers and myself on our own, went to lunch, didn't return, and wouldn't take phone calls later. Really turned the closing into a nightmare.
Read more
29 Mar, 2024 by Jamie
My ex-wife and I enlisted Robin to assist with the dissolution of our marriage. We brought documentation that had been the result of our mediation and handed it over per the mediator's instructions. Robin was recommended to us as someone who would work efficiently and take care of the rest of the process for a flat fee. That was not the case. The paperwork returned to us was clearly not prepared by an attorney. We were billed at attorney's rates for barely paralegal work. As a layperson I was able to identify problems with the documents. Whole paragraphs started over mid-sentence. Negotiated provisions from our mediation were missing. It was a mess. Then she literally billed me for her time to answer the question "How much will the rest of this work cost?" We finally walked away and took what she had done to a _FAR_ more reputable firm in Ithaca. Our attorney at that firm initially resisted taking the work because Robin had done such a bad job. That firm required a separate agreement to take on our work that specifically held them harmless from any potential litigation arising from the enforcement of the horrible agreement Robin wrote up. That was nearly 14 years ago. I'm disappointed to see she's still practicing. Run, don't walk, to any other attorney in town.
Read more
28 Aug, 2018 by Barb
Robin handled a possible home purchase. I was young, naive and inexperienced. She barely looked at the purchase agreement, allowed me to put a 5000$ deposit The deal eventually fell thorough and when I asked about the 5000 deposit she shrugged her shoulders. I learned later that if the deal falls through for lack of the ability to finance the deposit should be returned. But the worst part of all was that she and the sellers attorney kept arguing while myself and the seller actually got along. AND she charged me 3000$ for all the phone calls they had arguing about something that was not arguable- I couldn’t get the financing!!!!! Terrible!
Read more
20 Jun, 2013 by Anonymous
He's still working with WordPerfect. George can barely use email and when he does, he's incapable of basic correspondence structure such as greetings and closings. He forgets which one of us is the customer and even his staff, Emily, is perfunctory and rude. Not unlike other lawyers, George and Emily, seem to have taken that required law course in learning how to never smile, make clients wait when they arrive for a confirmed appointment, never apologize, and just basically be rude. Don't bother contacting this law firm. There are better lawyers and better humans out there to spend your time with.
Read more
Discover the ideal lawyer
You can search a lawyer by practice area, lawyer name, city, state, or ZIP code
FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What an Estate Planning Lawyer Can Do for You
An estate planning lawyer helps individuals plan for the management and distribution of their assets after death or during incapacitation. Their services involve drafting important legal documents, such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Estate planning attorneys work to ensure that your assets are transferred according to your wishes, minimize tax liabilities, and avoid probate court. They also help clients plan for potential long-term care needs and protect their estate from being diminished by healthcare costs.
By working with an estate planning lawyer, you can have peace of mind knowing that your loved ones will be cared for and that your estate will be managed efficiently and according to your desires.
When Should I Hire an Estate Planning Lawyer?
Hiring an estate planning lawyer is beneficial in many situations, especially when you want to ensure that your assets are handled properly after death. Common reasons to hire an estate planning lawyer include:
- Drafting a will: If you want to clearly define how your assets will be distributed after death, an attorney can draft a legally sound will.
- Creating a trust: For those looking to avoid probate or provide for loved ones over time, setting up a trust can help manage the distribution of assets.
- Planning for incapacity: An estate lawyer can help draft powers of attorney and healthcare directives so that your financial and medical decisions are made by someone you trust if you become incapacitated.
- Minimizing estate taxes: If your estate is large, a lawyer can help create strategies to reduce or eliminate federal and state estate taxes.
- Special circumstances: If you have minor children, blended families, or complex assets like businesses, an estate planning lawyer can create tailored solutions.
- Guardianship or conservatorship: If you want to designate guardians for minor children or ensure proper care for incapacitated adults, an attorney can help.
Hiring an estate planning lawyer is especially important if your estate is complex or if you want to ensure that your wishes are properly followed.
What Does an Estate Planning Lawyer Do?
An estate planning lawyer provides a range of services designed to help you organize your affairs and ensure your estate is managed according to your wishes. They can:
- Draft wills and trusts: Creating legally binding documents that dictate how your assets will be distributed and managed.
- Create powers of attorney and healthcare directives: Appointing someone to make financial or medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated.
- Minimize taxes: Developing strategies to reduce estate taxes, gift taxes, and other financial liabilities for your heirs.
- Help avoid probate: Structuring your estate plan to avoid probate, which can save time and money for your beneficiaries.
- Advise on long-term care planning: Helping you plan for potential healthcare needs in the future, including Medicaid planning and protecting assets from being depleted by nursing home costs.
- Assist with beneficiary designations: Ensuring that life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and other financial instruments are correctly designated.
- Handle probate and estate administration: If a loved one has passed away, an estate planning lawyer can help guide you through the probate process or act as an executor.
How Are Estate Planning Lawyers Paid?
Estate planning lawyers typically charge for their services in one of several ways, depending on the complexity of your estate and the type of services you need. Common payment structures include:
- Flat fee: Many estate planning services, such as drafting a will or trust, are charged on a flat-fee basis. The fee covers all work related to preparing the document.
- Hourly rate: For more complex planning, such as estate tax strategy or trust administration, lawyers may charge by the hour. Rates vary based on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Retainer: Some lawyers require a retainer for more complex cases, such as ongoing trust management or estate administration. The retainer is an upfront payment that covers future legal services.
It’s important to discuss fees with your lawyer upfront to avoid unexpected costs.
How Much Does an Estate Planning Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring an estate planning lawyer depends on the complexity of your estate and the services you require. Here are some general guidelines:
- Simple wills or powers of attorney: A straightforward will or power of attorney may cost between $300 and $1,500, depending on your location and the lawyer’s experience.
- Trust creation: Establishing a trust, such as a living trust or revocable trust, can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 or more, depending on the complexity of your assets and estate planning needs.
- Comprehensive estate planning packages: Some lawyers offer packages that include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, which may range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the estate’s complexity.
- Hourly rates: For ongoing services like estate administration or tax planning, lawyers may charge hourly rates ranging from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience.
Always get a clear estimate of costs during your initial consultation to ensure the services fit within your budget.
Top Questions to Ask an Estate Planning Lawyer
Before hiring an estate planning lawyer, it’s important to ask questions to ensure they are the right fit for your needs. Here are key questions to ask during your consultation:
-
What is your experience with estate planning?
Ensure the lawyer has substantial experience drafting wills, creating trusts, and handling other estate planning services. -
How will you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges a flat fee or by the hour and ask for a detailed estimate of costs. -
What strategies do you recommend for my estate?
A good lawyer should be able to explain the best strategies for minimizing taxes, avoiding probate, and ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes. -
How often should I update my estate plan?
Ask how frequently you should revisit your estate plan, especially if your financial situation or family dynamics change. -
Do you offer ongoing support or updates?
Some lawyers provide periodic reviews or updates to ensure your estate plan stays current with changes in your circumstances or the law. -
How will you help my beneficiaries if something happens to me?
Ensure the lawyer is willing to guide your heirs through the estate administration process or help manage your trust after you’re gone.
How to Check the Credibility of an Estate Planning Lawyer
To ensure you’re hiring a credible estate planning lawyer, follow these steps:
- Verify their state bar license: Check with your state bar association to confirm that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing, with no history of disciplinary actions.
- Look for estate planning certifications: Some lawyers are certified as estate planning specialists, which indicates they have extensive knowledge in this area of law.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Online reviews on sites like Avvo, Google, or Martindale-Hubbell can provide insight into the lawyer’s professionalism and client satisfaction.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be able to provide references from previous clients who can speak to their expertise and client service.
- Check for membership in professional organizations: Lawyers who are members of organizations like the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) or the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) often have a strong reputation in the field.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first meeting with an estate planning lawyer, it’s important to come prepared. Here’s what you should bring:
- List of assets and liabilities: Provide a detailed inventory of your assets, including real estate, bank accounts, retirement funds, investments, and personal property, as well as any debts you may have.
- List of beneficiaries: Be ready to discuss who you want to receive your assets and in what proportions. This includes naming guardians for minor children if applicable.
- Existing estate documents: Bring copies of any existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or other relevant estate planning documents.
- Questions about your estate goals: Write down your goals, such as avoiding probate, reducing taxes, or setting up charitable donations, so your lawyer can tailor a plan to meet your needs.
- Information on medical and financial decision-makers: Be prepared to discuss who you want to appoint for healthcare and financial decisions if you become incapacitated.
By being well-prepared, you can ensure a productive consultation and begin building a comprehensive estate plan that meets your needs and protects your loved ones.
