Bronx & Westchester Estate Planning & Probate Attorneys
Wills, Trusts, Probate & Real Estate Counsel for New York Families Since 1989
Since 1989, Cavallo & Cavallo has helped families in the Bronx, Westchester County, and across New York City protect their homes, plan for the future, and settle the estates of the people they love. If you are looking for a Bronx estate planning attorney to draft a will or trust, need help with probate after a parent passes away, or want to know whether a transfer on death deed makes sense for your house, our attorneys give you straight answers and a clear plan. We work with young couples buying their first home, parents protecting their children, and older homeowners preparing for long-term care, with the same personal attention that has defined this neighborhood practice for more than three decades.
A Bronx Neighborhood Firm, Now Backed by Fisher Stone
Cavallo & Cavallo was founded in 1989 by brothers Vincent A. Cavallo and Orlando A. Cavallo, two Bronx natives who built the firm on real estate closings, wills, and elder law for the families they grew up alongside. Today the firm continues under the same name as part of Fisher Stone, P.C., led by attorneys Lowrance Fisher and Gregory Stone, both recognized as Super Lawyers Rising Stars. From our East Tremont Avenue office in the Bronx and our New Rochelle office in Westchester, we serve clients throughout the five boroughs, including Manhattan and Staten Island, along with Westchester and Putnam Counties. Our bilingual staff assists clients in English and Spanish, Attorney Fisher speaks Russian, and we still make house calls for clients who are elderly, disabled, or unable to travel to our office.
Estate Planning & Asset Protection
Estate planning involves more than a will that says who gets what. The right combination of documents protects your home and savings, keeps decisions in the hands of people you trust, and spares your family a long and expensive court process. A complete plan from Cavallo & Cavallo can include:
- Wills that name your executor, your beneficiaries, and a guardian for minor children
- Revocable living trusts that keep assets out of probate and allow a smooth handoff
- Irrevocable trusts for asset protection, Medicaid planning, and tax planning
- Powers of attorney so someone you trust can manage your finances if you cannot
- Health care proxies and living wills that make your medical wishes known
- Special needs planning that protects a loved one’s eligibility for benefits
- Transfer on death deeds and beneficiary designations for homes and accounts
Many of our clients come to us after a scare: a hospital stay, a parent’s diagnosis, or a friend’s family stuck in court for a year over an unsigned will. Others are simply ready to get organized after buying a home or having a child. Either way, we start with a conversation about your family, your property, and what worries you most, and then recommend only the documents that fit. A two-family house in Throgs Neck, a condo in Riverdale, and a co-op in Manhattan can each call for a different approach, and we explain why before anything is signed.
Estate planning is not a one-time event. We encourage clients to review their plan after a marriage, divorce, birth, death in the family, move, or major purchase, and we keep the process simple when it is time to update.
Probate & Estate Administration in the Bronx and New York City
When a family member dies, the people left behind often face a stack of paperwork while they are still grieving. Our Bronx probate attorneys guide executors and family members through every step, whether the estate is simple or has complications like a missing will, an unpaid mortgage, a house that needs to be sold, or relatives who do not agree.
We help with filing the petition to be appointed, gathering and valuing assets, notifying creditors and beneficiaries, handling the decedent’s home, preparing accountings, and making final distributions. When there is no will, we help the right family member take charge of the estate and work through who inherits under New York law. If a will is challenged or an executor is not doing the job, our team can step in to protect your share. We handle estates for families in the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, and Westchester, and we are just as comfortable helping an out-of-state child settle a parent’s estate from a distance.
Transfer on Death Deeds & What New York Law Requires
For many families, the house is the biggest asset and the main reason an estate ends up in court. New York added a tool to address that problem when its transfer on death deed law, Real Property Law Section 424, took effect on July 19, 2024. A transfer on death deed, often called a TODD, lets you name one or more beneficiaries who will receive your house or condo automatically when you die, without a probate or administration proceeding for that property. You keep full ownership while you are alive, and you can change or cancel the deed at any time.
The rules are strict. The deed must be signed in front of two witnesses who are present at the same time, acknowledged before a notary, and recorded before your death. In New York City, deeds for the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens are recorded with the Office of the City Register, while Staten Island deeds are recorded with the Richmond County Clerk. A deed that is never recorded has no effect, and a later will cannot revoke it. A TODD also only works for real property, so it cannot be used for co-op shares. When there is no transfer on death deed or trust in place, property passes through the Surrogate’s Court in the county where the person lived, through probate when there is a will or administration when there is not.
A transfer on death deed is a good fit for some homeowners and the wrong choice for others. It may not suit a family planning for Medicaid, an owner with several children who may disagree, or a property with a mortgage or liens the beneficiary would take on. Our attorneys look at your whole picture before recommending a TODD, a trust, or another approach.
Real Estate Purchases & Sales
Cavallo & Cavallo has represented buyers, sellers, and lenders in Bronx and Westchester real estate transactions since the firm opened. Our real estate attorneys handle the purchase and sale of single-family and multifamily homes, condos, and co-ops, along with refinances and investment properties. We review the contract, coordinate with brokers and lenders, clear title issues, prepare for co-op board packages, and represent you at the closing table.
Real estate and estate planning go hand in hand. When you buy a home, we can talk through how to title it and whether a trust or transfer on death deed belongs in your plan. When you sell a parent’s house as part of an estate, our team handles both the closing and the estate work, so nothing falls between two law offices. Attorney Fisher also owns and manages investment properties in Brooklyn and the Bronx, which gives our clients a practical perspective on rentals and multifamily buildings.
Medicaid Planning, Nursing Home Care & NYSARC Trusts
Nursing home and home care costs can drain a lifetime of savings in a short time. Medicaid can help cover long-term care, but qualifying means meeting strict income and asset limits, and mistakes in timing or paperwork can delay coverage when a family needs it most. Our elder law attorneys help seniors and their families plan ahead, and we also help families who are facing an urgent nursing home admission right now.
We use tools such as Medicaid asset protection trusts and NYSARC pooled trusts to help protect the family home and savings while a loved one receives care at home or in a facility. We also prepare Medicaid applications and guide families through the process, so you can focus on your parent or spouse instead of the forms.
Personal Injury & Work Site Injury
If you were hurt in a car accident, slip and fall, construction or workplace accident, or by a defective product or medical error, you should not have to carry the cost of someone else’s carelessness. Our attorneys work to get you the medical care and compensation you need, including payment for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We offer free consultations for injured clients in the Bronx, Westchester, and throughout New York City.
Meet Our Attorneys
Lowrance Fisher, Esq. focuses on residential real estate for buyers, sellers, and investors and works closely with real estate agents throughout the city. He earned his business degree from Brooklyn College, was admitted to the New York bar in 2014, and represents Russian-speaking clients in their own language.
Gregory Stone, Esq. focuses on estate planning and business law, helping parents put wills and trusts in place and helping business owners form and protect their companies. He grew up in Brooklyn and Staten Island and was admitted to the New York bar in 2016.
Orlando A. Cavallo, Esq. (Retired) co-founded the firm with his brother Vincent in 1989. A former educator, he spent his career guiding Bronx and Westchester families through wills, trusts, elder law, Medicaid, and probate, and his plain-spoken approach to estate planning still shapes how the firm works with clients today.
In Memory of Vincent A. Cavallo, Esq. Vincent co-founded the firm with his brother Orlando in 1989 and spent decades representing buyers, sellers, and banks in Bronx and Westchester real estate. His commitment to the community remains the foundation of this practice.
New York Estate Planning & Probate FAQs
What estate planning services does Cavallo & Cavallo offer?
Cavallo & Cavallo prepares wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies, living wills, transfer on death deeds, special needs plans, and Medicaid plans. The firm also handles probate, estate administration, trust administration, and estate disputes for families in the Bronx, Westchester, and across New York City.
Do I need a lawyer to make a will in New York, or can I do it myself?
You can write your own will, but small mistakes in signing or wording can leave your family in court. An attorney makes sure the will is properly signed and witnessed, matches your wishes, and works with the rest of your plan, such as your deed and account beneficiaries.
How can I keep my Bronx house out of probate?
Common options include a revocable living trust, a transfer on death deed, and certain forms of joint ownership. The best choice depends on whether you may need Medicaid, how many children you have, whether there is a mortgage, and whether the property is a house, condo, or co-op.
What is a transfer on death deed, and is it right for me?
A transfer on death deed names who will receive your house or condo when you die, without probate for that property. You keep control during your lifetime and can change it later. It works well for some homeowners, but it is not available for co-ops and may not fit a Medicaid plan, so it is worth reviewing with an attorney first.
My parent passed away. What should I do first?
Locate the original will if there is one, secure the home and any valuables, collect recent bank and mortgage statements, and avoid paying debts or distributing belongings until someone has legal authority over the estate. Then call our office, and we will walk you through the next steps.
What happens if someone dies without a will in New York?
The estate goes through an administration proceeding, and New York law decides who inherits, usually a spouse, children, or other close relatives. A family member asks the court to be appointed as administrator to handle the estate. We help families through this process from start to finish.
Do you handle estates in Manhattan and Staten Island?
Yes. Our attorneys help families with estate planning, probate, and estate administration in Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, as well as Westchester and Putnam Counties.
What is the difference between a living will and a health care proxy?
A living will states your wishes about medical treatment, especially at the end of life. A health care proxy names a trusted person to make medical decisions when you cannot. Most people benefit from having both.
How can I protect my home and savings from nursing home costs?
Planning ahead gives you the most options, often through a Medicaid asset protection trust. Families facing an immediate nursing home stay still have choices, including NYSARC pooled trusts. Our elder law attorneys review your situation and explain what can still be done.
Can you help if I am selling a parent’s house after they pass away?
Yes. We handle the estate side, including getting the executor or administrator appointed, and the real estate side, including the contract and closing, so the sale moves forward without delay.
Do you make house calls?
Yes. If you are elderly, disabled, or unable to travel, our attorneys can meet with you at home or in a hospital or care facility to review and sign your documents.
How do I get started?
Call our Bronx office at (718) 822-2203 or our New Rochelle office at (914) 235-8500 to schedule a free consultation. Our staff can help you in English or Spanish, and Russian-speaking clients can meet with Attorney Fisher.
Serving the Bronx, Westchester, Manhattan, & Staten Island
Our Bronx office on East Tremont Avenue sits close to the neighborhoods we have served the longest, including Throgs Neck, Pelham Bay, Country Club, City Island, Morris Park, Pelham Parkway, and Parkchester. We also work with families across the rest of the borough, from Riverdale, Kingsbridge, and Fordham to Soundview, Morrisania, Hunts Point, and Mott Haven. Beyond the Bronx, our attorneys help clients throughout New York City, including Manhattan, Staten Island, and Queens. In Westchester County, our New Rochelle office serves clients in Yonkers, Mount Vernon, White Plains, Scarsdale, Harrison, Port Chester, Tarrytown, Ossining, and Peekskill, as well as New Rochelle itself.
Contact Our Bronx & Westchester Estate Planning Attorneys
Whether you are writing your first will, settling a loved one’s estate, buying a home, or planning for long-term care, Cavallo & Cavallo is ready to help. Visit our Bronx office at 3453 E. Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10465, or call (718) 822-2203. Our Westchester office at 1293A North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10804 is available by appointment at (914) 235-8500. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let a firm that has served New York families since 1989 help you plan for what matters most.
