Practice Areas
Most people come to me at a turning point: a parent who needs care, a new child, a business to protect, or an estate to settle. Whatever brought you here, the right place to start is understanding which of these areas applies to your situation.
Planning for Your Future
Estate Planning, Wills & Trusts
Estate planning is the process of arranging for the management and distribution of your assets during your lifetime and after your death. I help you create a complete estate plan that reflects your wishes and protects the people you love, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare proxies, and living wills. I serve clients throughout Sullivan County, Orange County, and Ulster County, New York.
Learn More About Estate Planning, Wills & Trusts →Advanced Estate Planning
For clients with larger estates or complex financial situations, basic wills and trusts may not be enough. I help high-net-worth individuals and families implement advanced strategies including irrevocable life insurance trusts, charitable remainder trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, and generation-skipping trusts to minimize estate and gift taxes, protect assets from creditors, and build a lasting legacy.
Learn More About Advanced Estate Planning →Non-Traditional Estate Planning
Estate planning is not one-size-fits-all. Unmarried couples, blended families, LGBTQ+ families, and others who fall outside the traditional married-with-children model face unique legal challenges that standard estate plans are not designed to address. I help non-traditional families build plans that reflect their real relationships and protect the people they love.
Learn More About Non-Traditional Estate Planning →Planning for Children
If you have minor children, estate planning is not optional. Without a plan in place, a court will decide who raises your children and controls their inheritance. I help parents establish testamentary trusts, nominate guardians, and create age-based distribution plans that protect children financially and ensure their upbringing reflects your values.
Learn More About Planning for Children →Planning for Later Life and Family Needs
Elder Law & Medicaid Planning
Elder law encompasses a broad range of legal issues affecting older adults, with Medicaid planning at the center. If you or a loved one may need nursing home care or home health services, planning ahead can protect your life savings. I have over 40 years of experience helping Sullivan County families qualify for Medicaid while preserving their assets through legal strategies such as Medicaid trusts, spousal protection planning, and asset repositioning.
Learn More About Elder Law & Medicaid Planning →Special Needs Planning
Planning for a family member with special needs requires a careful balance: providing financial security without disqualifying them from essential government benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. I help families create special needs trusts and comprehensive lifetime care plans that supplement rather than replace public benefits, ensuring your loved one is supported long after you are no longer able to provide direct care.
Learn More About Special Needs Planning →Guardianship
When an adult becomes incapacitated due to illness, injury, or cognitive decline and has not executed advance directives, a court-appointed guardian may be necessary to make personal and financial decisions on their behalf. I guide families through the Article 81 guardianship process in New York, from filing the petition through the court hearing and appointment, and assist with ongoing guardian reporting requirements.
Learn More About Guardianship →Probate & Estate Administration
When a loved one passes away, their estate often must go through the probate process before assets can be distributed to heirs. I provide comprehensive probate and estate administration services throughout Sullivan County and the Hudson Valley, including filing the will with Surrogate’s Court, identifying and appraising estate assets, paying valid claims and taxes, and distributing assets to beneficiaries. I am here to make a difficult time as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Learn More About Probate & Estate Administration →Pet Trusts
For many of us, pets are family. A pet trust is a legally enforceable arrangement that provides for the care of your animal companion if you become incapacitated or pass away. Unlike a simple bequest in a will, a New York statutory pet trust creates a binding legal obligation with dedicated funds and a named trustee who oversees your pet’s care. I help clients provide for their beloved companions as part of a complete estate plan.
Learn More About Pet Trusts →Start Protecting Your Family Today
Schedule a free initial consultation with Attorney Martin Hersh today.