Essential New York Estate Planning Services: Wills, POA & Proxy

Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy it’s for anyone who wants peace of mind and clarity for their loved ones. In New York, planning your estate properly ensures that your assets, health decisions, and finances are managed according to your wishes, rather than leaving the courts to decide for you. With tools like Wills, Health Care Proxies, and Powers of Attorney (POA), you can take control of your future and protect your family from unnecessary stress or confusion.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the essentials of estate planning in New York, explain why each document matters, and show how you can complete everything safely, efficiently, and affordably.

Why Estate Planning Is Important

Life is unpredictable, and no one likes to think about it, but planning ahead is critical. Without a clear plan:

Your property and assets may be distributed according to Intestate Succession Laws, meaning the state decides who inherits if you don’t have a Will.
Children or dependents may be placed under guardianship decided by the court, not by your wishes.
Family members can face conflicts, delays, and legal fees when distributing your estate.

Estate planning ensures your assets go to the people or organizations you choose, provides clear instructions for your children, and designates trusted individuals to make health or financial decisions if you’re unable to.

Wills: Your Foundation for Estate Planning

A Will is the cornerstone of any estate plan. It’s a legal document that lays out who gets your belongings after you pass away and names someone you trust (an executor) to manage the process.

Why You Need a Will

Most people benefit from having a Will, but it’s especially important if you have:

Children, particularly minors
Specific personal items or assets you want to pass to friends, family, or charities
Complex financial situations
Property or investments

Without a Will, your estate will be distributed according to state rules, which may not reflect your wishes.

Making a Will in New York

In New York, creating a simple Will is straightforward with the right guidance. Key steps include:

Gather Personal Information: Collect details about your assets, debts, beneficiaries, and potential guardians for children.
Complete a Workbook: Many services provide questionnaires to ensure you cover all necessary points.
Draft the Will: Based on your input, a professional prepares a legal document including executors, beneficiaries, and asset distribution.
Review and Revise: Carefully check the draft to make sure it matches your intentions.
Finalize and Sign: New York law requires at least two witnesses to watch you sign your Will. The witnesses cannot be named as beneficiaries.
Store Safely: Keep the original in a secure location and inform your executor.

It’s also important to review and update your Will over time, especially after major life changes like marriage, divorce, births, or significant changes in assets.

Health Care Proxy: Protecting Medical Decisions

A Health Care Proxy is another essential part of estate planning. It lets you appoint someone you trust to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to do so yourself. This ensures that your health care wishes are honored, whether it’s regarding treatments, procedures, or long-term care decisions.

Without a Health Care Proxy, hospitals and doctors may have to follow standard protocols or rely on distant relatives or courts to decide. Having this document in place provides peace of mind for both you and your family.

Power of Attorney: Managing Finances and Legal Matters

A Power of Attorney (POA) allows a trusted person to handle your financial and legal affairs if you’re incapacitated. This could include:

Paying bills and managing bank accounts
Handling property or investments
Filing taxes
Making day-to-day financial decisions

A POA is vital for avoiding financial disruption and ensuring your affairs are managed according to your wishes, even if you’re not able to do so personally.

Special Considerations for Parents and Guardians

If you have minor children, estate planning becomes even more critical. Through your Will, you can:

Appoint a guardian to care for your children
Designate a custodian for any funds or assets you leave them
Specify how property or money should be distributed

Without these documents, the court decides guardianship and inheritance matters, which may not align with your preferences.

Why Professional Guidance Makes a Difference

Estate planning might seem overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Professional document preparation services ensure your Wills, Health Care Proxies, and POAs are legally accurate, complete, and tailored to New York law. They can guide you through every step, from collecting information to finalizing documents with witnesses and notaries.

Affordable, experienced services provide:

Simple Wills starting at $299
Health Care Proxy and POA preparation
Step-by-step guidance and review
Secure signing and storage options

Having a professional handle the paperwork reduces the risk of mistakes that could cause delays or legal complications later.

Updating Your Estate Plan

Life changes, and so should your estate plan. You should revisit your Will, Health Care Proxy, and POA regularly, particularly after:

Marriage or divorce
Birth or adoption of children
Acquiring significant new assets
Relocation or changes in financial circumstances

Updating your documents ensures your plan continues to reflect your current wishes and protects your loved ones effectively.

Why Choose We The People NYC for Estate Planning

For New Yorkers seeking affordable, professional, and reliable estate planning, We The People NYC is a trusted choice. They specialize in preparing Simple Wills, Health Care Proxies, and Powers of Attorney to help you secure your family’s future without high legal fees.

With over 20 years of experience, their team has assisted thousands of New Yorkers in creating accurate, court-ready estate planning documents. Their process is straightforward:

Gather your personal information and assets
Complete a guided workbook/questionnaire
Draft and review your Will, POA, and Health Care Proxy
Make any necessary revisions
Sign with proper witnesses and notary
Store your documents securely and update as needed

For just $299, you can create a Simple Will, and many clients choose to pair it with a Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney for full protection.

Conclusion

Estate planning is more than just creating legal documents it’s about protecting your family, securing your legacy, and ensuring that your wishes are honored. In New York, Wills, Health Care Proxies, and Powers of Attorney are essential tools for anyone who wants clarity, control, and peace of mind.

By taking the time to prepare and update these documents, you prevent family disputes, avoid court intervention, and make sure your children, assets, and health care decisions are in trusted hands. With experienced and affordable services like We The People NYC, you can complete your estate planning efficiently, accurately, and with confidence.

Your future, your family, and your peace of mind are worth it start your estate plan today.