How To Prepare For Your First Consultation With An Estate Planning Attorney In New York

In this article, you can discover…

• What to bring to your initial consultation with an estate planning attorney.
• The types of personal and financial questions the attorney might ask you.
• How an attorney can help you navigate the emotions of estate planning.

What Documents Should I Bring To My First Estate Planning Consultation?

For our first consultation, I’ll need…

• Your Most Recent Bank Statements
• Your Home Deed and Property Tax Bill
• Life Insurance Policies
• Brokerage Accounts
• IRA, Pension, and Annuities
• Savings Bonds
• Income information (including Social Security and Pensions)
• Health Insurance and Premiums
• Health Insurance Cards
• A Family Tree (With Names, Addresses, Dates of Birth, Phone Numbers, and Email Addresses)
• Copies of Drivers’ Licenses For All In Attendance
• Copies Of All Previously Prepared Legal Documents
• Documents Related To Any Other Assets That You Own

I will also need a check for $500.00 for the consultation fee.

You can mail these documents, or drop them off at my office. If you drop them off, please call ahead to confirm that someone will be in the office to receive them. Alternatively, you can put these documents in the locked mailbox outside the building.

How Long Will An Initial Consultation Take?

Our first consultation will generally take place virtually and will take up to two hours. If you prefer an in-person meeting, I also offer consultations in my office. And if any other family members will be joining us, please provide me with their email addresses ahead of time.

Attorney Joanne Schlenk McAvey is a skilled Medicaid and estate planning attorney serving New York. Since 1982, she’s put clients just like you at ease and empowered them to build the foundations of a strong, tailored, and protective estate plan.

Have questions, or in need of legal guidance? Reach out to the Law Offices of Joanne Schlenk McAvey, PLLC to schedule an initial consultation today.

What Types Of Personal And Financial Questions Might The Attorney Ask?

During our initial consultation, I’m going to get to know your estate as well as I know mine. I’m going to ask you questions about your children, income, health, and any medical conditions or surgeries you’ve had. If you’re willing to share, I’ll ask you about any medications you’re taking.

I’ll ask about your resources, insurance policies, and deductibles. I’ll let you know what you can deduct as you budget, as Medicaid allows you to keep enough money ($1,800 in New York in 2025) to pay your health insurance premiums.

This information will help me determine if we can establish a pooled trust to help protect more of your retirement income. In this way, you may to pay your bills and meet the eligibility requirements remain in your home, and still qualify for and benefit from Community Medicaid, should you choose to receive care in-home.

How Can I Know That An Estate Planning Attorney Is Right For Me?

Before you head into your initial consultation, do a little research online to see what other clients have said about the attorney in reviews. Find out about their background and how long they’ve been practicing estate planning law.

Be alert to how responsive the attorney is. Does the attorney call you back? Do they ignore you? How does the attorney treat you? Attitude and chemistry are quite important, as is ease of conversation. If you feel like you can ask the attorney anything, that’s usually a sign of a good fit.

If the attorney is rude, makes you feel insignificant, or doesn’t listen, consider looking elsewhere. Overall, make sure you hire an attorney who is responsive, attentive, experienced, and who puts your needs and priorities first.

Notes From The Field: Can You Share A Time When A Client Came To The Consultation Highly Anxious Or Emotional? How Did You Make Them Feel Safe And Heard During The Process?

One guardianship case I handled years ago was especially significant. A client came in, and he was highly emotional. He was crying and felt incredibly guilty that he could no longer take care of his wife. She had dementia, and he had been taking care of her 24/7. His kids were in college, and he needed to put her in a nursing home.

He felt terrible, as though he were somehow failing her. I reassured him that this was not the case. And that if she were to be taken care of in a nursing home, there would be two, if not three, shifts of nurses taking care of her professionally and safely, around the clock. That was far more care than he could provide. As it stood, the stress of caring for her alone was making him sick, and he’d be no good to his wife if he were sick.

I brought a guardianship proceeding, and once complete, he was appointed legal guardian for his wife and she was placed in a nursing home. This allowed my client to begin to recover from the trauma of trying on Medicaid to care for her full-time.

He had so many stories… Like the time they were driving to visit their children in college, and she tried to open the car door at 65 miles per hour. She’d also ask him who he was and then demand that he get out of her house. He was so hurt and tired, and it was a relief for him to know that there was a pathway to getting the full-time care she needed, while taking the practical and emotional responsibility off of his shoulders.

Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?

For more information on estate planning attorney consultations in New York, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (631) 489-6613 today.