At Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro, LLP, our firm is best known for representing victims of medical malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death, birth injury, construction accidents, motor vehicle accidents, and other serious injury claims throughout Long Island, New York City, and the surrounding areas. While our primary focus is on personal injury and medical malpractice law, we recognize the critical importance of having a dedicated Wills, Estates, and Guardianship team to ensure our clients’ long-term security and peace of mind. Our wills and estates attorneys provide comprehensive legal services, including wills, trusts, estate planning, guardianships for disabled children and incapacitated family members, healthcare directives, and powers of attorney. We offer personalized solutions to ensure your wishes are honored and your assets are safeguarded.
A serious injury, unexpected diagnosis, disability, or the death of a loved one can raise urgent questions about the future:
Our wills, trusts, estate planning, estate administration, and guardianship attorneys help individuals and families put the right legal protections in place before, during, and after life-changing events.
Whether you need a will, trust, power of attorney, healthcare proxy, guardianship, or assistance with estate administration, SSKB provides practical legal guidance focused on protecting your family, your wishes, and your future.
Estate planning is important for every family, but it is especially critical when a family is dealing with a serious injury, medical malpractice claim, wrongful death case, or long-term disability.
At SSKB, our estate planning team works closely with our personal injury and medical malpractice attorneys when estate issues overlap with injury-related claims. This integrated approach allows our attorneys to consider both the immediate legal claim and the long-term needs of the client and family.
This may include:
A serious injury or medical event can change a family’s financial, medical, and personal circumstances overnight. Estate planning documents can help ensure that trusted people are legally authorized to act when needed. Our goal is to help families avoid unnecessary legal complications, preserve important rights, and make informed decisions during difficult moments.
Call our office at (800) 675-8556 or contact us online to schedule a free and confidential consultation and learn how we can assist you with wills, trusts, estate planning, guardianships, healthcare directives, and powers of attorney.
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A will allows you to state how your property should be distributed after death and who should be responsible for carrying out your wishes.
Our attorneys assist with drafting wills that address:
A properly prepared will can help reduce confusion and conflict among family members.
Trusts can be used to manage, protect, and distribute assets according to specific instructions. Depending on the circumstances, a trust may help with privacy, asset management, disability planning, or long-term family protection.
Trust planning may be especially important for families dealing with:
Our attorneys can help determine whether a trust is appropriate for your circumstances.
A power of attorney allows you to appoint someone you trust to manage financial and legal matters if you are unable to do so.
This can be especially important after an accident, illness, hospitalization, or progressive medical condition.
A power of attorney may allow your chosen agent to assist with:
Without a valid power of attorney, families may need to seek court intervention before they can act on behalf of an incapacitated loved one.
A healthcare proxy allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions if you cannot make those decisions yourself. Advance directives can also help document your wishes regarding medical treatment and end-of-life care.
These documents are especially important for people facing:
Clear healthcare planning can reduce uncertainty and help ensure that your medical wishes are respected.
Guardianship may be necessary when a person cannot make personal, medical, or financial decisions on their own.
Our attorneys assist families with guardianship matters involving:
Guardianship can give a legally appointed person authority to make decisions in the best interest of someone who cannot fully care for themselves.
For families of disabled children or incapacitated loved ones, guardianship planning can be essential to long-term care, stability, and protection.
When a loved one passes away, family members may need legal guidance to administer the estate. This can involve probate, surrogate’s court filings, asset collection, debt resolution, beneficiary communication, and distribution of estate property.
Estate administration may be especially important after a wrongful death or medical malpractice death, where the family may also be pursuing or resolving a legal claim.
Our attorneys assist executors, administrators, and beneficiaries with:
We help families move through the estate process with clarity and care.
When a loved one dies because of negligence, families may have questions about both the legal claim and the estate.
A wrongful death case may require the appointment of a personal representative, such as an executor or administrator, before a claim can move forward. The estate may also need to address how any recovery is distributed under New York law.
Because SSKB handles wrongful death, medical malpractice, and serious injury cases, our attorneys understand how estate issues can affect litigation and family recovery.
Estate planning and estate administration may play an important role in cases involving:
Our team helps families understand what legal steps may be required and how estate matters may intersect with a wrongful death claim.
Many estate planning firms focus only on wills, trusts, and probate. At SSKB, our estate planning work is informed by decades of experience representing people affected by serious injury, medical negligence, disability, and wrongful death.
That perspective matters when estate planning overlaps with litigation, settlement planning, incapacity, guardianship, or family loss.
When estate planning issues arise during a personal injury or medical malpractice matter, our attorneys can coordinate across practice areas. This helps clients receive more complete legal guidance without having to manage disconnected legal teams.
We help clients prepare for difficult situations before they become emergencies. Whether you are planning for your own future, caring for an injured family member, or handling the estate of a loved one, our attorneys provide clear, practical legal support.
SSKB has served injured individuals and families across Long Island, New York City, and New York State for decades. Our attorneys understand the needs of New York families facing serious legal, medical, and financial challenges.
Yes, it may be wise to review your estate plan if you have a serious personal injury claim. A lawsuit, settlement, disability, or change in medical condition can affect your financial and family planning needs.
A power of attorney allows a trusted person to handle financial and legal matters if you become unable to do so. Without one, your family may need to go to court to obtain authority to act.
In some cases, yes. Depending on the client’s age, disability status, family circumstances, and benefit eligibility, settlement planning may involve trusts or other legal tools. An attorney can review the situation and recommend appropriate options.
A wrongful death case may require estate administration or the appointment of a legal representative. The estate may also be involved in receiving and distributing certain claims or recoveries.
Often, yes. When a disabled child turns 18, parents may no longer have automatic legal authority to make medical, financial, or personal decisions. Guardianship may be necessary to continue providing support and protection.
A healthcare proxy allows someone to make medical decisions for you if you cannot do so. A power of attorney allows someone to handle financial and legal matters. Many people need both documents.
Planning for the future can feel overwhelming, especially after an injury, illness, disability, or death in the family. You do not have to handle these decisions alone.
At Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro, LLP, our attorneys help New York families with wills, trusts, estate planning, guardianships, healthcare proxies, powers of attorney, and estate administration.
We also understand how these issues can connect to personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death claims.
Call (800) 675-8556 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation.
Hablamos español.