Wills and Trusts Attorney on Long Island
Almost everyone arrives with the same question: do I need a will, or do I need a trust? It depends on what you own and how it is titled, and it takes about ten minutes to work out.
- Wills drafted, including guardianship for minor children
- Revocable living trusts to keep assets out of Surrogate’s Court
- Trusts actually funded, not just signed and filed away
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We reply the same business day
Will or trust, side by side
Plenty of families end up with both. A trust usually still has a short will behind it to catch anything that was never transferred in.
| Will | Revocable living trust | |
|---|---|---|
| Goes through Surrogate’s Court | Yes. Probate is how a will takes effect. | Assets properly transferred into the trust pass outside probate. |
| Public or private | A probated will becomes a public record. | Stays private. |
| Control over timing | Assets are distributed outright once the estate settles. | You can stagger distributions, set conditions, or hold funds for a young beneficiary. |
| If you become incapacitated | A will does nothing until you die. | Your successor trustee can step in and manage trust assets without a court proceeding. |
| Names guardians for children | Yes. This is done in the will. | No. You still need a will for this. |
| Upfront cost and effort | Lower. | Higher, and it only works if the assets are actually retitled into it. |
A trust that is never funded does almost nothing
This is the single most common failure we see in plans drafted elsewhere.
Signing is not the finish line
A trust only controls what has been put into it. If the deed to the house and the brokerage account were never retitled, those assets are still going through probate no matter what the trust document says.
Beneficiary designations override everything
Retirement accounts and life insurance pass by designation, not by your will or your trust. An ex spouse still listed on a 401(k) inherits it, whatever the rest of the plan says.
We check the titling, not just the paperwork
Because Jason is also a Financial Advisor, account titling and beneficiary forms get reviewed as part of the same engagement rather than left for you to chase.
Why families choose this firm
Plain language
Clients tell us the thing they valued most was having legalese explained in terms they could actually act on.
Fees in writing
Agreed before any drafting starts, so there is no surprise bill when you call with a question.
Properly funded
The retitling gets done. A signed trust sitting in a drawer is not a plan.
Reviewed as life changes
Clients come back to update rather than starting over somewhere new every few years.
16+ Google reviews
“My parents recently decided it was time to create their estate plan, and we are so glad they chose Jason. He explained everything clearly, step by step, and made the entire process easy to understand. He also took the time to explain to my siblings and me how our future inheritance will be protected, which gave our whole family peace of mind.”
Google review
“My husband and I knew we needed a will after having our first child, but we had no idea where to start. The team made everything easy to understand and helped us think through decisions we had not even considered, like guardianship and protecting our children. We never felt rushed, and every question was answered with patience.”
Google review
“After losing a family member, the last thing we wanted was to feel overwhelmed by legal matters. This firm handled our probate needs with compassion and attention to detail. We truly appreciated their support.”
Google review
“I wanted to protect myself and my family but knew nothing about trusts. Mr Breit explained everything in plain language, he was thorough and patient without making me feel rushed.”
Google review
“One thing I really appreciated was how transparent they were. The fees were agreed to in writing before any work started, so I never had to worry about surprise bills whenever I called with questions.”
Google review
“We are so thankful we found a firm that truly understands planning for families with special needs. It is comforting to know our loved one with special needs has a plan in place for the future.”
Google review
“We first completed our estate plan a few years ago and recently went back because our family situation changed. They reviewed everything with us and made updating our plan incredibly easy. It is comforting knowing we have a law firm we can continue to rely on instead of starting over somewhere else every few years.”
Google review
“Jason and Sarah are very professional and work in a timely and efficient manner. Jason is well versed in his area of expertise, and he takes the time to listen to your needs and explain legalese in layman’s terms. He also had good ideas we had not thought of. Highly recommended.”
Google review
“I was not sure where to start with estate planning, but the team made the process much less intimidating than I expected. They were professional, responsive, and incredibly thorough. I especially like that they encourage clients to come back for plan reviews as life changes.”
Google review
“I was referred to this firm by someone I trust, and now I understand why they spoke so highly of them. The entire experience was exceptional. Jason and Sarah kept me updated throughout the process. They were knowledgeable, caring, and truly committed to helping families protect what matters most.”
Google review
“Jason took the time to really help me understand the purpose of creating an estate plan and why it matters. Thanks to him, I now have peace of mind knowing my family will be taken care of.”
Google review
“Everyone in the office made me feel like I mattered. I never felt like I was just another appointment on the calendar. You can tell they care about building relationships with their clients, and that is not something you find often anymore.”
Google review
“Jason and his team did an unbelievable job with my family estate planning. I highly recommend him. Courteous, professional, diligent and timely.”
Google review
“Guy knows what he is talking about. He gets back to you quickly with answers.”
Google review
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every matter is different and the outcome of any particular matter depends on its own facts.
Jason R. Breit, Esq.
Jason built this practice around a view he formed early: a lot of legal work is either set up to escalate a fight or is purely transactional, and neither one serves a family trying to make a decision.
So the process here starts with education. Clients get walked through what they own, who depends on them, and what the law would do by default if nothing were in place. From there they choose. The point is not to produce documents. It is to make sure the documents work when the family needs them.
Alongside the law practice Jason works as a Financial Advisor, which means beneficiary designations, account titling, and the tax side get considered in the same conversation instead of being left to someone else.
- Admitted in New York, 2007
- J.D., Roger Williams School of Law
- MBA, Dowling College Townsend School of Business
- B.A., Hamilton College
- RICP, Retirement Income Certified Professional
- CLTC, Certified in Long Term Care
Wills and trusts questions
Melville, minutes from the Nassau line
Jason R. Breit, Esq., P.C.
Melville, New York 11747
Saturday, 9am to 2pm
Sunday, closed
Ten minutes will tell you which one you need
The free consultation exists to answer exactly this question. No cost, and no obligation to have anything drafted.