Rhinebeck Estate Planning Firm

Expert Elder Law & Estate Planning Services in Rhinebeck, NY

Ettinger Law Firm, located at 6369 Mill Street, Suite 216, in Rhinebeck, works to keep its Southern Dutchess County clients’ assets out of the 9th District Surrogate Court. We also have an office located in Fishkill. We draft trusts which help avoid probate. Other estate planning instruments can help to protect the present and future value of assets – while you’re still living and for your heirs. They include:

Planning for Veterans Benefits

Our elder law attorneys also assist in the planning for Veterans Benefits and protecting assets from nursing home costs, through Medicaid Planning or setting up a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT).

Here is a checklist to determine the need for a will:

What property do your own?

Where is it located? Will a domiciliary administration be required?

In what form of ownership is the property owned?

Are you aware of he intestate succession statute that determines who would take the property if you die without a will?

Are specific items of real or personal property to be given to certain beneficiaries?

Do you want to donate organs of your body for medical research?

Do you wish to establish a testamentary trust for the purpose of maintaining an income for a surviving spouse, elderly parent, minor child or even a spendthrift relative?

Is there a need for a guardian to be appointed over property or the person of minor children or incompetent persons?

Do you want to select a personal representative (executor) to handle the administration of an estate?

Have you considered the possible tax consequences to the estate without a will and to the beneficiaries, devisees or heirs?

Do you want any tax owed including state inheritance taxes to be paid out of specific bequests?

What powers and authorities do you wish to bestow on the executor, guardian or trustee?

If married, and the couple die in a common accident, have the consequences to their respective estates been considered?

Are you aware that probate files are open to the public?

Rhinebeck Surrogate Court

The 9th Judicial District Surrogate Court for Dutchess County is located on 10 Market Street in Poughkeepsie. In New York State, the administration of a deceased person’s estate comes under its jurisdiction. Honorable James D. Pagones oversees Surrogate Court probate proceedings which include distributing assets in accordance with State law if a valid will is not in place.

Helping Dutchess County Families Settle Estates Efficiently

Dutchess County, sitting majestically in the historic mid-Hudson Valley, is the home to several notable institutions like Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Hyde Park, the Beekman Arms (the oldest inn in the country), and Seven Sisters’ colleges, Vassar and Bard. As the northernmost county in the New York metropolitan area, it includes the city of Poughkeepsie as well as the towns of Dover, Fishkill, Hyde Park, Hopewell Junction, Millbrook, Millerton, Rhinebeck, Pawling, Pine Plains and Wappinger Falls.

Dutchess and Ulster County residents should understand that wills and trusts serve different purposes. A will specifies who gets what after you die, but it requires probate—a public, court-supervised process that ties up assets and discloses your financial affairs. A trust operates privately, avoids court involvement, and provides for asset management if you become incapacitated before death. For many Rhinebeck-area families, especially those with property in multiple locations or complex situations, a trust-centered approach offers greater protection and flexibility. Our Rhinebeck office helps you determine the right combination for your family’s needs.

Our Rhinebeck office provides comprehensive elder law and estate planning services for Dutchess and Ulster County families: Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts; Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts for families planning long-term care; detailed Wills and Probate Administration; Powers of Attorney for financial decision-making; Healthcare Proxies and Living Wills; Special Needs Trusts for disabled family members; Estate Tax Planning to optimize wealth transfer; and Inheritance Protection Trusts for future generations. We understand the Dutchess and Ulster County communities, work closely with local professionals, and serve farmers, business owners, and retirees. Our Lifetime Estate Planning Process includes free plan reviews every three years and updates as law and circumstances change.

Rhinebeck families often approach us with serious Medicaid planning concerns. We help families understand how to access benefits while protecting assets. We establish Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts for those planning years ahead; manage urgent Medicaid applications when care becomes immediately necessary; explain how assets affect Medicaid eligibility; and structure finances to maximize asset protection. We also help you plan ahead for Community Medicaid (home care aides) and Chronic Care Medicaid for nursing facilities. Our Rhinebeck office brings deep experience with Dutchess County families and understands New York’s rules thoroughly. We ensure you’re informed before making important decisions about long-term care.

Arranging your free consultation is easy—call our Rhinebeck office at (845) 876-6266 or our main number at 1-800-500-2525. You can also start online at trustlaw.com. Your complimentary initial consultation includes: thorough review of your current estate documents; meaningful discussion of your assets, family, and estate objectives; comprehensive answers to all your questions; a free copy of our “Guide to Protecting Your Future”; and access to our 37-minute educational video. We then schedule a second free meeting 2–3 weeks later to present recommendations and discuss our written fee proposal. There’s no pressure and no cost unless you decide to move forward with our services.

Our Rhinebeck office is located at 6375 Mill Street, Rhinebeck, NY 12572. Please park in the lot in the back of the bank building. Entrance for the second-floor offices is located on the right-hand side of the building and labeled “Old Bank Square”. Hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. If you need directions or have parking questions, call (845) 876-6266 and we’ll provide clear guidance.

Rhinebeck

Expert Elder Law & Estate Planning Services in Rhinebeck, NY

Wills

Estate Administration and Probate

Inheritance Trusts

Living Trusts

Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts

Supplemental Needs Trusts

Request Your No-Cost Consultation

Planning for Veterans Benefits

Rhinebeck Surrogate Court

Helping Dutchess County Families Settle Estates Efficiently

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us Today

Why Clients Trust Us

Get Started Today

Our Locations

Trusted Expertise