Expertise.com

Best Probate Lawyers in Waterbury

2023

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Website
15 Bennitt Street, New Milford, CT 06776
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Cecilia Buck-Taylor serves New Milford and neighboring communities. Founded in 1991, it has helped clients navigate probate matters like estate administration and planning, conservatorships, trusts, emancipations, and termination of parental rights. Its owner, Cecilia Buck-Taylor, strives to employ well-rounded perspectives and attention to detail on cases she handles. She also has extensive experience in providing non-adversarial divorce support, parenting dispute coaching, civil union concerns, and other family law issues.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Cecilia Buck-taylor - Principal32 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (9)
Google
3.8 / 5 (5)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (5)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
493 Heritage Road, Southbury, CT 06488
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Inheritance Taxes
  • Estate Taxes
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation
  • Estate Settlement

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Lisa E. Wnuck LLC in Southbury is headed by Lisa E. Wnuck, an attorney who began exclusively handling matters in elder law, probate, and estate planning in 1987. Her efficient team of attorneys and paralegals has managed estates of different sizes and complexity and has experience in estate settlement, trust administration and estate planning to avoid probate. The law firm can also provide assistance in ancillary probate if a decedent owned a property in Connecticut.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Lisa Wnuck - Owner36 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (21)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (1)

Website
972 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury, CT 06033
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Taxes

Why choose this provider?

Kane, Hartley & Kane, P.C. has been serving residents in and around Waterbury for over 35 years. Its attorneys provide probate administration services. They help clients navigate the legal system and draft and file documents with tax agencies and probate courts. They also counsel clients on various aspects of tax and estate planning, covering conservatorship and guardianship matters, charitable trusts, and gifts. Richard H. Hartley III, one of the firm's practitioners, earned his Juris Doctor in 1974.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (102)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (22)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
543 Prospect Ave, Hartford, CT 06105
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Hartford-based Connecticut Probate LLC offers legal services to residents of Waterbury. It helps facilitate the smooth process of distributing assets after the decedent’s death. The firm commits to giving its clients peace of mind instead of a mere piece of paper by assisting them in the whole probate proceedings and in handling beneficiary designations, assets in living trusts, and joint tenancy. The firm’s legal practitioners and staff have been helping families navigate the process of probate for more than 30 years.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (8)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
180 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Russell Stutsky, Attorney at Law, serves individuals in Waterbury by offering probate law solutions. The office handles courtroom processes surrounding the administration of estates. It forms trusts and prepares powers of attorney to ensure continuity in the conduct of a decedent's affairs. The firm also takes on elder care matters like the production of Medicaid plans. Russell Stutsky focuses on inheritance and real estate law. He is a civil litigator who has experience with condominium laws.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (13)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
934 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Since 1994, The Law Office of Julia M. Brown, LLC, has been helping families deal with probate matters in Waterbury. Sole practitioner Julia M. Brown assists in creating comprehensive estate and care plans. She prepares advance medical directives, irrevocable and revocable trusts, last wills and testaments, and powers of attorney. Brown previously worked as an attorney with Connecticut Legal Services, where she handled issues affecting the elderly. She has been named as an "Elder Law Super Lawyer" by Connecticut Magazine.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Julia Brown - Principal37 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Google
4.5 / 5 (15)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
580 Watertown Avenue, Suite B, Waterbury, CT 06708
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Drapp & Jaumann LLC Attorneys at Law focuses on estate planning, probate, and elder law. Established in 2005, it has offices in Waterbury and Milford. Joseph A. Jaumann and John C. Drapp III help clients with legal processes involving living wills, revocable trusts, power of attorney, healthcare options, and even directives on the donation of body parts. Jaumann is a Federal Bar Association member and also handles bankruptcy cases. Drapp is a Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association member and also advises on small business and gun laws.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
John Drapp - Partner20 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Google
4.9 / 5 (32)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (9)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (7)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
86 Buckingham St, Waterbury, CT 06710
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Taxes
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Grady & Riley, LLP, Attorneys at Law is a multi-practice firm serving clients in Waterbury and the surrounding areas. It provides probate administration assistance that includes drafting of wills and trusts, powers of attorney, and guardianship and conservatorship petitions. Its attorneys also handle personal injury, real estate, and business law cases. The firm has been representing individuals, families, and businesses for more than 45 years. Its origins can be traced back to a law practice established by Francis J. Grady in 1971.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Thomas Riley - Managing & Founding Partner47 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Google
4.1 / 5 (9)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (9)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
123 Bank Street, Waterbury, CT 06702
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Waterbury-based firm Griffin, Griffin & Mayo, P.C., provides legal counsel in the areas of estate planning and probate law. Its lawyers assist in drafting wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. It also helps families explore the idea of conservatorship and guides them through the probate process. The firm started in 1949 at a single desk and chair of Walter R. Griffin, eventually gaining clients from different industries, including individuals, families, small enterprises, and multi-billion dollar companies.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Stephen Griffin - Partner45 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (11)
Google
4.7 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
6 Landmark Square 4th Flr, Stamford, CT 06901
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Calabrese Law PLLC is a personalized boutique law practice that caters to individuals and families in the Waterbury metro. Domenick N. Calabrese, the firm's principal attorney, offers his depth of legal knowledge acquired from nearly five decades of combined experience as a trusts and estates lawyer and a probate judge. He helps clients navigate through complex estate planning and probate process, from choosing appropriate instruments to probate representation. Calabrese also extends his services to clients in Florida and New York.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (4)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
19 Mitchell Avenue, Waterbury, CT 06710
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Bryan McEntee helps clients in Waterbury with probate issues. This refers to the court-supervised process of administering a deceased loved one's estate. Bryan McEntee works with clients over issues like claims against the estate, disputes among beneficiaries, and the determination of heirs. He also offers estate planning that covers everything from drafting a will to setting up a power of attorney. His other practice areas include criminal defense, personal injury suits, and family law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Bryan Mcentee - Principal14 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.4
Google
5.0 / 5 (22)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (9)
Facebook
0.0 / 5 (4)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
575 Highland Ave, Cheshire, CT 06410
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Since 1992, the Law Offices of Geralyn F. Schmitt, LLC, has been guiding Waterbury residents through the probate process. It assists people in protecting their assets from unnecessary taxes and distributing them to their heirs. The firm’s attorney, Geralyn F. Schmitt, also represents individuals and businesses in residential real estate transactions by helping those looking to buy, sell, or refinance their properties. Before establishing her own practice, Schmitt worked as an associate for another firm, where she handled cases related to bankruptcy, trusts and estates, and real estate.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0
Google
4.3 / 5 (12)
Avvo
1.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
515 Highland Avenue, Cheshire, CT 06410
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Amy E. Orlando is a lawyer who provides probate administration services to people in Waterbury, helping them settle the estates of their deceased family members. She also works on elder law matters and offers estate planning services. Amy serves as the state ambassador to the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and board member of Planned Lifetime Assistance Network's Trust Committee. Amy also conducts elder law and estate planning classes for various adult education programs in Connecticut.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Amy Orlando - Principal15 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
420 East Main Street, Branford, CT 06405
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Taxes
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Hershman Legal Group PC is a law firm with probate lawyers near Waterbury. The company's attorneys are passionate about resolving challenging legal problems using creative solutions. The firm has extensive experience in the areas of estate planning, probate administration and litigation, business succession planning, and commercial real estate. With a focus on thoroughly understanding its clients' concerns and unique circumstances, Hershman Legal Group PC aims to provide them with the right advice and representation.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Aaron Hershman - Senior Attorney13 yrs

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
131 Dwight Street, New Haven, CT 06511
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Inheritance Taxes
  • Estate Taxes
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Scott D. Rosenberg offers services in estate planning, probate, small civil matters, and elder law. A solo practitioner, Scott Rosenberg aims to provide satisfactory client experience by personally handling every aspect of his clients’ cases and communicating with them in a setting that is convenient to them. He has worked on a wide range of areas concerning estate and probate, including basic wills, advanced healthcare directive, estate tax planning, and single- or multi-generational family trusts. His offices can be found in New Haven and Guilford.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Scott Rosenberg - Principal14 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Google
4.3 / 5 (6)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
678 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Gina M. Petrokaitis, Attorney At Law, provides Waterbury residents with estate planning services. Petrokaitis and her staff help clients determine the most suitable methods to distribute estates, using legal devices like trusts and wills. They also help individuals and families assign contingent beneficiaries by establishing living wills and powers of attorney. With a focus on estate planning and probate, the firm has also guided executors to settle a decedent's debts. It can accommodate clients who speak Spanish.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Gina Petrokaitis - Principal29 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.4
Google
4.5 / 5 (35)
Facebook
0.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
228 Meadow Street, Suite 103, Waterbury, CT 06702
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Daniel H. Miller is a full-service legal firm catering to locals of the Waterbury metro and surrounding areas. It focuses on probate and family law cases. The law office's services include real estate planning, trust and will management, and civil litigation. The firm is composed of two lawyers, Daniel Miller and Artila Lubonja. Miller, founding attorney of the firm, has been a consistent recipient of various awards like The National Advocates' Top 40 Under 40.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (80)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (79)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
250 Wolcott Road, Wolcott, CT 06716
  • Trusts
  • Wills

Why choose this provider?

Tynan & Iannone Attorneys at Law is a full-service law firm that serves the residents of Waterbury and the surrounding areas. It guides individuals and families through the probate administration process. It also assists with estate planning tools such as wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, dispositions of remains, and lifetime trusts. Additionally, the firm handles matters involving Medicaid or Title XIX. Partner William F. Tynan has been practicing law for more than four decades. He has served on the Wolcott Town Council.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
William Tynan - Senior and Managing Partner48 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
4.7 / 5 (13)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
750 Straits Turnpike, Suite 2A, Middlebury, CT 06762
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Broderick Law Firm, LLC, has been providing legal solutions to families, small business owners, and lenders in and around Waterbury since 2004. It represents individuals in the probate process as well as in will contests and conservatorship and guardianship proceedings. The firm assists clients in estate planning matters, including asset protection and taxation. It also handles matters involving real estate property sales and leases, business startups, and business sales and purchases. Its principal attorney, Michael Broderick III, is licensed to practice in New York and Massachusetts.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.6
Facebook
4.4 / 5 (17)
FindLaw
5.0 / 5 (15)
Google
4.0 / 5 (4)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Waterbury, Connecticut?

    Individuals with non-emergency concerns can contact the Waterbury Police Department at (203) 574-6911.

  • What happens to an individual's property in Waterbury if they pass away without leaving a will?

    In Waterbury, if an individual dies without a will, their property is divided according to the state's "intestate succession" laws. The distribution depends on the surviving relatives. Spouses typically receive the initial $100,000 plus a portion of the balance. Depending on who's alive, children, parents, or siblings may also inherit parts of the estate. If there are no immediate family members, the estate could be passed to next of kin, step-children, or ultimately, the State of Connecticut.

  • What is the role of a special needs trust in managing assets in Waterbury?

    In Waterbury, a special needs trust is a strategic method to manage assets for a special needs individual without threatening access to crucial government benefits, such as SSI and Medicaid. This trust comes in three forms: first-party, third-party, and pooled, with the beneficiary being the individual with special needs. Given the complexity of establishing these trusts, consulting an adept estate law attorney is advisable.

  • In Waterbury, what are the conditions under which a will can be contested, and what is the timeline for initiating such a challenge?

    In Waterbury, a will can be contested for several reasons, such as undue influence, dubious competence, improper execution, or fraud. The Connecticut Probate Court is the place for such disputes. The estate must be "open," meaning an executor, creditor, or beneficiary has filed a petition within 30 days of the person's death. Claims typically must be lodged within 150 days while the estate is open, although extensions can be granted.

  • Under what circumstances can an expedited probate be utilized for an estate in Waterbury?

    In Waterbury, a simplified probate process called "settlement without probate" is available for small estates. This process can be used when the deceased person owned no real estate or if any real estate was jointly owned and passes to the surviving owner. The total value of the personal property must also be less than $40,000. Certain assets, such as those held in joint tenancy or transfer-on-death accounts, are not counted toward this limit because they pass directly to named beneficiaries.