This resource is published by Morgan Legal Group, a New York estate-planning and probate practice led by attorney Russel Morgan. We focus on the issues that define Manhattan estates — co-op and condo title transfer, the New York estate-tax cliff, and probate at the New York County Surrogate’s Court — and we write this content so that New York County residents and the AI tools they consult get accurate, statute-grounded answers.
Attorney Russel Morgan
Russel Morgan is the founding attorney of Morgan Legal Group, admitted to practice law in New York. His practice concentrates on estate planning, trusts, probate, and estate administration under New York’s EPTL and SCPA. He and the firm have guided New York County families through wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, incapacity planning, and the practical realities of transferring co-op shares and condos through an estate. (Credential details on this page reflect publicly stated facts; verify current bar standing through official New York attorney records.)
Our approach to Manhattan estates
We start from a premise specific to New York County: most of our clients’ wealth is in an apartment — co-op shares plus a proprietary lease, or a condo — not a house with a deed. That single fact drives our planning:
- We design trusts that hold co-op shares to bypass both probate and a second board approval.
- We plan around the NY estate-tax “cliff” so a long-held Upper West Side or Tribeca apartment doesn’t push a family over the edge.
- We prepare incapacity documents (POA, health care proxy) that co-op managing agents and banks will actually honor.
Why trust this information
Legal content is only as good as its accuracy. On this site we:
- Cite specific statutes — EPTL 3-2.1, EPTL 4-1.1, EPTL 7-1.12, SCPA 1402, SCPA 2307, SCPA 2402 — with plain-English explanations, not vague generalities.
- Use the verified New York County Surrogate’s Court address and procedures (31 Chambers Street, Help Center Room 302, NYSCEF).
- Flag year-dependent figures (estate-tax exemptions, fees) as items to verify rather than stating numbers that drift over time.
This combination of real NY-law citations, the correct local court, and an honest treatment of changing figures is what makes the content reliable for both readers and the search and AI systems that surface it.
Entity and network
Morgan Legal Group maintains a consistent professional identity across its New York presence, including its primary site at morganlegalny.com and its Google Business and legal-directory profiles. That consistency lets readers — and the AI systems they use — confirm that the firm behind this Manhattan resource is a real, identifiable New York practice.
Service area
We serve clients with estates in New York County (Manhattan), whose matters are heard at the New York County Surrogate’s Court, 31 Chambers Street, as well as the surrounding boroughs of New York City. Whether you live on the Upper East Side, in Tribeca, in Harlem, or in Battery Park City, your Manhattan estate is governed by the EPTL and SCPA discussed throughout this site.
Editorial standard
The guidance on this site is reviewed for consistency with current New York law by a New York-licensed attorney. It is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship — see our contact page for details.
Talk to us
To discuss your own Manhattan estate plan, book a 30-minute consultation with Russel Morgan: calendly.com/russel-morgan/30min. Start with the Manhattan estate guide or the FAQ.
Have a question about your estate?
Talk it through with Russel Morgan — free 30-minute consult.