2026
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LicensingUser ReviewsMystery Shopping CallsOur goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Buffalo estate planning lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.
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(5)The Law Offices of Melissa A. Tocha has been providing quality and cost-effective legal services in Amherst, NY and communities nearby for over 10 years. It offers legal advice and representation in matters involving estate planning, residential real estate, lender representation, and power of attorney. The Law Offices of Melissa A. Tocha is registered with the Erie County Bar Association.
Law Office of Ruth P. George is an estate planning law firm that serves clients in Buffalo. It helps customers with legal matters regarding simple and complex wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies, and trusts. Owner Ruth George also assists with business succession planning, real estate transfer, beneficiary designation review, and income tax planning. She earned her Juris Doctor at the University at Buffalo School of Law and was accepted to the New York State Bar in January 2001.
Voelkl Law, PC, is a full-service estate planning and probate law firm in Buffalo. It specializes in drafting comprehensive estate plans and trust solutions and resolving issues on litigated estates. It also helps clients create or update wills, plan for nursing home care, protect assets, minimize death taxes, and establish guardianship. In addition, the firm provides legal counsel regarding real estate issues and business law matters. Its principal attorney, Jeffrey Voelkl, has been practicing estate planning, estate administration, and probate litigation since 1993.
Dwan Counter, Attorneys at Law is a Buffalo-based law firm that has been delivering efficient, cost-effective legal advice and representation to individuals and families in the community for many years. The firm's experienced professionals can assist with estate planning, real estate law, criminal defense, civil litigation, and more. Dwan Counter, Attorneys at Law also offers a free consultation.
Ed Northwood & Associates is a boutique law firm that has been serving individuals, families, and businesses in the greater Buffalo area since 2007. It offers quality legal advice and representation in matters involving tax and estate planning, trust and estate administration, international tax planning and counseling, and international tax compliance. Ed Northwood & Associates was recognized by Corporate INTL as a Global Awards winner in 2016.
Stamm Law Firm is a family-owned legal practice in Williamsville, NY that specializes in estate planning as well as elder law, Medicaid assistance, and personal injury litigation. This law firm has been serving the community for over 40 years. Stamm Law Firm is composed of experienced and highly-skilled professionals who are committed to providing quality legal services at reasonable rates.
The Tarantino Law Firm, LLP is a law firm in Buffalo, NY that takes pride in providing its clients with comprehensive, client-centered legal services at reasonable rates. It is composed of experienced Buffalo attorneys who specialize in handling matters involving estate planning, business law, business litigation, professional licensing and privileging investigations, medical malpractice defense, and more. This law firm has been featured in US News & World Report and Super Lawyers Business Edition.
(2)Duke, Holzman, Photiadis & Gresens LLP is a team of results-driven Buffalo attorneys who are committed to providing clients with efficient and cost-effective services. Areas of practice include estate planning, trusts, taxation, labor and employment law, civil litigation, and business and corporate law. Duke, Holzman, Photiadis & Gresens LLP is registered with the Bar Association of Erie County and the New York State Bar Associaton.
(16)Restaino Reddien, LLP is a law firm in Niagara Falls, NY that is composed of knowledgeable and experienced professionals who are dedicated to providing clients with quality, innovative, and personalized legal services. This firm specializes in estate planning, real estate law, and personal injury. Restaino Reddien, LLP's lawyers are registered with the New York State Bar.
Duggan Pawlowski & Cooke LLP is a Buffalo-based law firm that handles estate planning and probate for individuals, real estate owners, and business owners. It also offers real estate representation and provides counsel on adverse possession cases and boundary issues. Other practice areas include property damage and bodily injury claim, insurance defense, contract dispute, and business formation. Its attorneys, James Duggan, Neil Pawlowski, Jesse Cooke, and Rodger Doyle, are members of the New York State Bar Association.
Disclaimer: 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 with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
716-853-2222 is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Buffalo.
To get a copy of police reports for incidents related to your case in Buffalo, fill out the online form and submit a FOIL request at https://cityofbuffalony.nextrequest.com/requests/new.
In Buffalo, a Health Care Proxy is a legal document that allows you to designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. It is an important part of estate planning and ensures your medical preferences are respected. The appointed healthcare agent or proxy can decide regarding treatments and procedures based on your wishes and best interests, providing peace of mind for your medical care.
The price for a standard estate planning package in Buffalo varies, generally ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. This package typically encompasses essential components such as will preparation, the establishment of a power of attorney document, and considerations related to healthcare benefits. The specific cost within this range may depend on various factors, including the complexity of the individual's estate, the geographical location, and the attorney or firm hired to provide the services.
An estate in Buffalo will stay open for seven months after preliminary letters have been issued. This timeframe is designated to allow creditors sufficient time to come forward and assert their claims against the estate. The purpose is to ensure that all legitimate creditors have the opportunity to make their claims known and seek appropriate compensation. The court waits for creditor claims before finalizing the estate and closing.
For individuals who died in Buffalo between January 1, 2021, and January 1, 2022, the New York state estate tax is applicable if the total value of the decedent's federal gross estate and includible gifts exceeds $5,930,000. If an estate is valued below this threshold, it is not subject to the state estate tax.
In Buffalo, passing away without a will is known as dying intestate. Your assets will be divided following New York State law. This could result in unintended beneficiaries acquiring your assets and lengthy and costly legal battles. Having a properly drafted and executed will help prevent or minimize conflicts and distribute your assets as you intend.
