Trust & Estate Planning
Planning for the future is not simply about preparing documents. It is about creating clarity, control, and security for the people and priorities that matter most.
Make intentional decisions before they become urgent — protecting assets, documenting wishes, preparing for care, and organizing what you have built.
Put structure in place before decisions become urgent.
At Zeh & Associates, P.C., we believe that Trust & Estate Planning is about providing clarity, control, and security for you and your loved ones. Whether you are preparing for the future of your family, your business, or your wealth, the goal is to create a plan that is thoughtful, legally sound, and built around your circumstances.
Our attorneys collaborate closely with individuals and families to design customized estate plans that reflect long-term objectives and personal priorities. The process should make complex decisions easier to understand and give you confidence that the right structures are in place.
Done well, estate planning can help preserve your legacy, reduce avoidable legal complications, provide direction to the people you trust, and reduce the potential for family disputes.
Built around your life, not a template.
The right plan may involve a combination of legal documents and strategies. We help clients understand how each piece works together.
Last Will & Testament
Direct how assets should be distributed and identify who will carry out your wishes.
Revocable & Irrevocable Trusts
Create structures for privacy, probate avoidance, asset management, and controlled distribution.
Healthcare Proxies
Name a trusted person to make healthcare decisions if you cannot.
Powers of Attorney
Authorize a trusted person to handle financial and other important matters.
Living Wills
Document wishes concerning medical treatment and end-of-life care.
Beneficiary Designations
Coordinate account-level beneficiary decisions with the broader estate plan.
Asset Protection Strategies
Evaluate structures intended to preserve assets and support long-term family objectives.
Will or trust? Often, the answer is both.
Wills and trusts serve different purposes. A will directs the distribution of assets through probate. Trusts can provide privacy, greater control, and in many situations can help assets pass outside probate.
From first conversation to finished plan.
Free Initial Consultation
Discuss your family, concerns, priorities, and planning goals.
Comprehensive Evaluation
Review personal, financial, family, and planning considerations.
Tailored Planning
Develop a strategy around your circumstances rather than a standard package.
Document Preparation & Review
Prepare and review the legal documents before execution.
Ongoing Support
Revisit the plan as family, assets, laws, and priorities change.
Estate planning, explained clearly.
Do I need a trust or a will in New York?
The appropriate structure depends on your assets, family, goals, privacy concerns, and how you want property to pass. For many clients, a coordinated plan includes both.
What is the difference between a revocable and irrevocable trust?
They are different legal structures with different levels of control, flexibility, and planning implications. The right choice depends on the purpose of the trust.
How often should I update my estate plan?
Review it when major life, family, financial, or legal changes occur, and periodically to make sure it still reflects your intentions.
What happens if I die without a will in New York?
New York intestacy rules govern distribution and the court appoints an administrator, which may not reflect your preferred outcome.
Legal issues rarely exist in isolation.
Medicaid Planning & Asset Protection
Plan for long-term care while preserving what matters.
Elder Law
Coordinate legal planning around aging, care, and capacity.
Real Estate Law
Counsel for property transactions, closings, and disputes.
Probate Law
Guide estates through Surrogate's Court and administration.
Christopher W. Zeh, Esq.
Principal Attorney
Chris founded the firm in 2013 and leads its trust and estate practice, handling estate and probate litigation when a plan is contested.
Read biographyRich Cave · Client“Christopher Zeh Esq of Zeh & Associates is an exceptional trust and estate attorney. He is highly knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and explains complex matters clearly and thoughtfully.”
Clarity starts with understanding the situation.
Speak with Zeh & Associates about the facts, the decisions in front of you, and the legal path that may make sense from here.