Ithaca, New York, Estate Planning Attorney

Providing Compassionate and Skilled Counsel to New York Families Faced with Estate Planning, Probate and Elder Law Issues

A large part of the Patte Law Firm's time and resources are devoted to helping individuals and families plan for the future. For more than 30 years, Attorney George D. Patte, Jr. has represented clients in the Ithaca area and throughout central New York State. He and his staff work with individuals and families who wish to create estate plans, as well as assist families through the probate and estate administration process.

There are many important deadlines that must be met, so it is important to talk with an experienced lawyer as soon as you can. For compassionate and experienced counsel, contact the firm for a no-charge initial consultation.

Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts

Every person who has assets, and especially people who have children and own property, should have an estate plan. Estate planning includes drafting wills and trusts that provide a plan for distributing assets upon a person's death, naming a guardian for children, and designating a person to make decisions in the event of incapacity. Attorney George Patte is highly experienced in helping people create sensible and thorough estate plans that protect their assets for their beneficiaries.

At the Patte Law Firm, Mr. Patte and his staff can explain your options and the benefits of certain legal documents and estate planning such as:

• Last Will and Testament
• Living Will or Healthcare Proxy
• Power of Attorney
• Revocable Trust
• Irrevocable Trust
• Supplemental Needs Trust
• Estate Tax Planning

Careful estate planning can significantly reduce the estate tax exposure to your estate, ease the probate process for your children and beneficiaries, minimize the chance of a will contest, and ensure that your own wishes for health care and asset distribution are followed in the future.

Elder Law Issues

An area of law that is closely linked to estate planning is elder law. As the population ages and skilled nursing care becomes necessary, it is also necessary to take steps now to protect your assets for your children and plan for your later years. This specific planning involves drafting documents that plan for long-term nursing or medical care while protecting a parent's or family member's assets, and evaluating Medicaid eligibility and benefits.

One way to protect your assets and ensure that you can still qualify for Medicaid or other government benefits is to consider an irrevocable trust. Mr. Patte assists clients in figuring out how to pay for long-term health care, drafting living wills and health care powers of attorney, taking advantage of tax law provisions for gifting and charitable giving, and Medicaid planning. When necessary, he also assists with personal injury claims involving elder abuse or nursing home neglect.

Probate and Estate Administration

At its most basic level, probate is the legal process of recognizing a valid last will and testament, paying a deceased person's creditors, and distributing the property and assets to the beneficiaries designated in the will. Depending on the size of the estate and what estate planning documents were used, this process can be simple or complex.

At the Patte Law Firm, Attorney Patte and his staff have helped many families to settle their loved one's affairs and effectively probate the estate. In many cases, Attorney George Patte drafted the will or trust that determines how the estate and assets will be handled and distributed.

If you need to speak with an experienced lawyer about your loved one's estate, elder law issues concerning your elderly parent, or protecting your own assets for your children, contact the firm to schedule a no-charge initial consultation with Mr. Patte.

Patte Law Firm

121 East Buffalo Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: (607) 272-3484
Fax: (607) 277-2112
E-mail