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Best Probate Lawyers in Albany, NY

Our Recommended Top 18

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Albany Probate Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

37Reviewed

29Curated

18Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

1510 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12205

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

For over 14 years, Keith A. Daniels has been offering legal services to businesses and individuals in Albany. He advises executors and prepares surrogate court filings and wills. He assists spouses in negotiating child custody and support arrangements and handles separation agreements. The attorney also caters to businesses, helping them with contract preparation and incorporation matters. He works with buyers, landlords, sellers, and tenants regarding real estate transactions. Daniels also practices in the area of traffic law.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

440 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (29)

Why choose this provider?

Rosenstein Chicatelli, PLLC, is a multi-practice law firm serving clients in Albany. It helps clients in protecting their assets and wealth through wills and trusts preparation and execution, powers of attorney drafting, and business succession planning. Its attorneys provide assistance to clients going through the probate process using their experience in elder law and residential and commercial real estate. Partners Charles B. Rosenstein and Louis W. Chicatelli Jr. represent real estate buyers, sellers, and landlords.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Charles Rosenstein - PartnerActive34 yrs

215 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, NY 12205

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (14)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Razzano Law, PLLC, is a private practice that responds to clients residing in Albany and neighboring areas. The firm handles the different aspects of a probate proceeding, which include debt settlement and asset distribution. In addition, it deals with other asset-related matters, such as trust termination, last wills and testaments, powers of attorney, and healthcare proxies. Founding attorney Brittiny B. Razzano has been practicing in the asset protection and family wealth management areas since 2008. She graduated from law school cum laude.

  • Estate Planning

317 Brick Church Road, Troy, NY 12180

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Fowler, Doyle, Spiess & Florsch, PLLC, offers estate planning and probate administration services in Albany. Its legal team has more than three decades of experience in the field, educating, counseling, and guiding clients through probate and estate administration. Specializing in elder law, the firm also takes on related cases, such as wills and trusts, Medicaid planning, and asset protection. Principal partner William J. Doyle, III, practiced with his father in the same firm since being admitted to practice in New York in 1985.

  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning

11 British American Blvd.,, Latham, NY 12110

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (15)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Rowlands LeBrou & Griesmer, PLLC is a law firm focused on providing individuals and families in Albany with legal and financial counseling to protect their assets. It delivers advice and assistance throughout the probate process, whether supervised or unsupervised. It also offers legal strategies to avoid probate, such as beneficiary designations, joint tenancy, and revocable living trusts. The firm also handles family business succession, fundamental and special needs estate planning, estate and trust administration, and litigation.

  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

1881 Western Avenue Suite 200, Albany, NY 12203

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (22)
Yelp
1.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Since 2020, Monaco Cooper Lamme & Carr PLLC has been serving families in Albany and its nearby areas. The firm provides legal services to estate needs like probate and estate administration, advanced directives, trust and estate planning, asset preservation, and wills. Its four litigators have more than 100 years of combined legal experience representing beneficiaries, executors, and trustees in cases where a trust or will is contested before federal and state courts. But they are also prepared to solve disputes through arbitration and mediation.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

85 Otsego St, Ilion, NY

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (12)
Avvo
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Rheinhardt and Bray, P.C. is an elder law and estate planning firm serving the residents of Albany and the surrounding areas. The legal team guides its clients in composing wills, trusts, power of attorneys, and other estate planning processes. It also offers legal representation through probate litigation. Jeff Rheinhardt, the principal, has over 25 years of legal experience and is a Certified Elder Law Attorney. Its lawyers also offer pro bono legal clinics and lectures to educate people on elder law and estate planning.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Elder Law

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Jeffrey Rheinhardt - PartnerActive42 yrs

29 British American Boulevard, Latham, NY 12110

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (7)
Yelp
1.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Lavelle & Finn LLP offers the attention and advice of skilled probate lawyers near Albany who assist clients with a full range of probate-related legal matters and help them to resolve any issues or conflicts that arise. This firm leverages experience with business transactions and tax planning to help clients prepare for the probate process via estate planning and deal with creditors and tax-obligations during it. Clients can also use Lavelle & Finn LLP to create wills or trusts.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
John Lavelle - Founding PartnerActive42 yrs

6 Tower Place, Albany, NY 12203

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.2 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Since 1919, Maynard, O'Connor, Smith & Catalinotto LLP, a team of attorneys and staff, has served several communities, including Albany. Its lawyers are skilled and experienced in preparing various instruments, including trusts and wills to minimize complex probate processes and disputes. They also provide estate planning and legal administrative solutions for families, businesses, and individuals. This law firm also practices estate litigation, employment law, personal injury, and medical malpractice defense. One of its pioneers, Michael E. Catalinotto, has been an integral member for nearly five decades.

  • Wills

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
James Schultz - Managing PartnerActive42 yrs
Michael Catalinotto - Senior PartnerActive63 yrs

99 Pine St Suite 108, Albany, NY 12207

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (46)

Why choose this provider?

E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy, LLP offers legal guidance for the locals of Albany. The firm handles all types of estate litigation, representing heirs and interested parties. It guides its clients through will contests and disputes regarding the interpretation of wills. The law office's managing partner, James E. Hacker, is one of the 500 US trial lawyers who is an elected Fellow of the International College of Trial Lawyers. E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy, LLP has been serving the state of New York for more than 120 years.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

125 Wolf Road Suite 503-3, Albany, NY 12205

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

William C. Deveneau Attorney at Law is a full-service firm serving Albany and surrounding communities. It assists executors, personal representatives, and family members in probate and estate administration processes after the passing of a loved one. Services include preparing fiduciary tax returns, managing the estate assets, and handling debts and expenses of the estate. Its practitioner, William Deveneau, also provides representation in probate, trust, and estate litigation. He had previously worked as a trooper for the state police before pursuing a legal career.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
William Deveneau - PrincipalActive4 yrs

1881 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Young, Fenton, Kelsey, & Brown PC operates in the Albany metro area and does business with a range of clients who need probate services performed. This firm has been active since 1976 and retains experienced lawyers who can aggressively advocate for estates when they become embroiled in conflicts with creditors or that involve heirs. Young, Fenton, Kelsey, & Brown PC also works with clients to help them plan out their estates and create directives of their own.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Andrea Kelsey - PartnerActive40 yrs
Nicole Strippoli - PartnerActive18 yrs

43 British American Boulevard, Latham, NY 12110

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.4 (23)
Yelp
2.5 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Pierro, Connor, & Strauss LLC provides multifaceted probate services to people all over the Albany metro area. The firm handles the succession of property from decedents to heirs and ensure that assets are accounted for and debts are paid. This particular practice does litigation work as well and represents clients in lawsuits when disgruntled heirs sue the estate or one another, or lawsuits arise with creditors. Estate planning and special needs planning services are available.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Louis Pierro - Founding PartnerActive40 yrs

255 Washington Avenue Extension Suite 104, Albany, NY 12205

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (7)
Avvo
5.0 (4)
Yelp
1.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Burke & Casserly PC is a law firm operated by probate lawyers in Albany who provide representation and guidance to families carrying out the process. This firm handles a wide range of concerns for clients who need to settle remaining obligations of estates in order to pass down assets to the heirs and avoid liabilities from unresolved debts or legal tax issues. Burke & Casserly PC also does several kinds of estate planning and healthcare planning.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Timothy Casserly - Shareholder/PartnerActive39 yrs

77 Troy Road, East Greenbush, NY 12061

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.3 (13)
Facebook
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Law & Law, PLLC, Attorneys and Counselors at Law assists individuals in Albany. It offers legal representation for matters concerning probate administration, estate, and trusts. The practice assists clients in probating wills and handles ancillary probate proceedings in other states for cases where the property of the decedent is outside New York. Additionally, the firm deals with matters involving residential real estate and provides criminal defense services. Robert T. Law III, firm co-principal, is a member of the Capital District Trial Lawyers Association.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

159 Wolf Road, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12205

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

DerOhannesian & DerOhannesian is a law firm that represents clients in the Albany area. It assists with probate administration, which is the court-supervised process of distributing a deceased person's assets. Its attorneys provide legal counsel to an estate's executor and help settle disputes among the beneficiaries. They also handle cases involving criminal defense, election law, personal injury, and civil litigation. Lead counsel Paul DerOhannesian II was an Albany County prosecutor. He has been practicing law since 1978.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Paul Derohannesian - PartnerActive45 yrs

540 Broadway, 7th Floor, Albany, NY

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (2)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Couch White, LLP Counselors & Attorneys at Law, provides probate services to Albany clients. It represents trustees executing estate plans, including wills, business documents, trust agreements, beneficiary designations, tax returns, and document titling. It communicates with beneficiaries, supervises inheritance delivery, and handles filings. It prepares gifts, generation-skipping, and estate tax returns. It provides litigation, arbitration, and mediation services. It has over 35 years of estate and trust administration experience, having handled more than 850 trusts and estates.

  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Administration

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Adam Conway - PartnerActive14 yrs

10 Utica Ave, Latham, NY 12110

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (43)
Facebook
5.0 (6)

Why choose this provider?

The Meier Law Firm focuses on elder law, estate planning and administration, and corporate law. Its team offers counsel to prevent probate proceedings in case of a family member’s death. Its lawyers help clients plan for long-term care, incapacity, business cessation, estate distribution, and estate tax minimization. The firm also handles probate litigation and business and employment law cases. The law firm serves the residents of Albany and has offices in Troy-Schenectady Road and Downtown Schenectady.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Compare our Top Probate Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Keith A. Daniels
1510 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12205
Rosenstein Chicatelli, PLLC
440 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205
Razzano Law, PLLC
215 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, NY 12205
Fowler, Doyle, Spiess & Florsch, PLLC
317 Brick Church Road, Troy, NY 12180
Rowlands LeBrou & Griesmer
11 British American Blvd.,, Latham, NY 12110
Monaco Cooper Lamme & Carr PLLC
1881 Western Avenue Suite 200, Albany, NY 12203
Rheinhardt and Bray, P.C.
85 Otsego St, Ilion, NY
Lavelle & Finn, LLP
29 British American Boulevard, Latham, NY 12110
Maynard, O'Connor, Smith & Catalinotto LLP
6 Tower Place, Albany, NY 12203
E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy LLP
99 Pine St Suite 108, Albany, NY 12207
William C. Deveneau Attorney At Law
125 Wolf Road Suite 503-3, Albany, NY 12205
Young, Fenton, Kelsey & Brown, P.C.
1881 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203
Pierro, Connor & Strauss LLC
43 British American Boulevard, Latham, NY 12110
Burke & Casserly, PC
255 Washington Avenue Extension Suite 104, Albany, NY 12205
Law & Law, PLLC Attorneys and Counselors at Law
77 Troy Road, East Greenbush, NY 12061
DerOhannesian & DerOhannesian
159 Wolf Road, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12205
Couch White, LLP Counselors and Attorneys at Law
540 Broadway, 7th Floor, Albany, NY
Meier Law Firm, PLLC
10 Utica Ave, Latham, NY 12110

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.

FAQs

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Albany, New York?

    You can reach the Albany Police at 518-438-4000 for non-emergencies.

  • Are small estates required to be probated in Albany?

    Small estates, those worth below $30,000, need not go through probate in Albany. Note that seemingly large estates may become “small estates” when accounted for under the state’s probate laws. Only assets that are solely under the decedent’s name are considered in the estate. Properties co-owned with their spouse and others are not counted towards the $30,000. It is advised that you consult a probate lawyer to validate if your loved one’s estate needs to be probated or not.

  • Will your estate have to go through probate when you pass away if you have a valid will prepared in Albany?

    Yes, all estates with wills, whether valid or not, will be probated in Albany. In New York, probate means the process of submitting the decedent’s will along with a petition to the probate court and being validated as genuine by the court. Once validated, the will’s executor receives Letters of Testamentary, giving them the authorization and fiduciary duty to collect the decedent's properties, settle debts, pay off administrative expenses, file the estate’s tax returns, and distribute inheritances to beneficiaries.

  • What if the decedent left no will, will their estate be probated in Albany?

    If the decedent left no will, their Albany estate will go through the process of “administration” instead of probate. The court will appoint an estate “administrator,” a role which can be applied for by the decedent's “closest distributees” like the spouse or adult children. The Administrator will perform the same functions as an executor in a willed estate, such as debt settlement and asset distribution. Since there is no will, asset distribution will be according to levels of kinship.

  • Can the family home be taken during probate in Albany for the purpose of paying off the decedent’s debts?

    In general, no. Section 5206 of the New York Consolidated Laws exempts homesteads utilized as primary dwellings from creditor claims. However, homesteads are only exempt up to a specific value. The homestead exemption in Albany County is up to $125,000. The following are considered "homestead" properties:

    • Land lot with a dwelling
    • Condominium or apartment unit
    • Mobile home
    • Cooperative apartment corporation stock shares
  • How long does the probate process take in Albany?

    The probate process in Albany typically takes a minimum of seven months, usually nine months. This is due to New York’s Surrogate's Court Procedure Act Section 1802, which releases an executor from liability for creditor claims made after seven months. Essentially, the executor must allow seven months to receive claims and pay them off before they can distribute the decedent’s remaining assets to beneficiaries. If you have been appointed as executor, it is recommended to seek guidance from an Albany probate lawyer.

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