Law Offices of Vlad Portnoy, P.C.

09/07/2026

This Labor Day, we pause to honor the hard work, dedication, and contributions of workers everywhere who keep our communities thriving.

💼 Office Schedule Notice:
Please note that the Law Offices of Vlad Portnoy, P.C. will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of the holiday. We will reopen for regular business hours on Tuesday.

Planning for your family’s future shouldn't wait. Whether you need assistance with estate planning, elder law, or probate, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

🌐 Visit us online: www.nywillsandestates.com

👉 Take Action: Send us a direct message or visit our website today to schedule your consultation for next week! Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend! 🇺🇸✨

09/05/2026

Who speaks for you if you can't speak for yourself? 🩺

Imagine facing a medical emergency where you are unable to communicate your wishes. Without the proper legal documents in place, doctors and courts—not your loved ones—may decide who makes your critical healthcare decisions.

In New York, many people assume a standard will covers medical choices, or that a spouse automatically has full authority. The reality? You need two distinct documents:

• Health Care Proxy: Appoints a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated.

• Living Will: Outlines your explicit wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment, end-of-life care, and medical interventions.

Our latest article breaks down exactly how these documents work together under New York law to protect your autonomy and spare your family from painful guesswork.

📖 Read the full NYC guide here:

https://nywillsandestates.com/blog/living-will-health-care-proxy-nyc/

📞 Ensure your healthcare wishes are legally protected in NY or NJ:

Call our estate planning team today at (212) 920-6371 or visit us online:

🌐 NY: www.nywillsandestates.com
NJ: www.njwillsandestates.com

Learn how to create a living will or health care proxy in New York and why family members can't automatically decide your medical care without one.

09/04/2026

Good intentions without legal planning can ruin a family's finances. ⚠️

🎥 Watch the case study video to see how to avoid this trap! https://youtube.com/shorts/AZziAPKeKM0?feature=share

Need advice on complex family estate planning in NY or NJ?
📞 Call us: (212) 920-6371
🌐 NY: www.nywillsandestates.com
NJ: www.njwillsandestates.com

How good intentions can accidentally trigger thousands of dollars i...

09/02/2026

Myth: "Putting my home in a trust means no one can touch it." 🛑

Truth: Only the right type of trust will protect your assets.

One of the biggest mistakes we see is people creating a Revocable Trust believing it shields their home from Medicaid or lawsuits. Because you retain control over a revocable trust, courts and creditors view those assets as yours.

If asset protection or long-term care planning is your primary goal, an Irrevocable Trust is usually required—but it comes with trade-offs you need to know first.

Don't sign estate documents until you know the exact difference.

Read here: https://nywillsandestates.com/blog/revocable-vs-irrevocable-trust-mistakes/)

Questions about trusts in NY or NJ?

📞 Call (212) 920-6371

Learn key revocable vs irrevocable trust differences and the mistakes Manhattan families make when setting up an irrevocable trust for asset protection.

09/01/2026

"Can't you just write a quick letter saying I'm in charge?"

We hear this from potential clients all the time. When people go to Surrogate's Court, they are often told they need "Letters" (such as Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration). Many assume this means their attorney can simply draft a note on letterhead confirming their status.

Watch our latest video to learn how the court appointment process actually works! 🎥https://youtube.com/shorts/QAC1ZTzTUXo?feature=share

Have questions about estate administration in NY or NJ? Give us a call:
📞 (516) 271-4205
🌐 NY: www.nywillsandestates.com
NJ: www.njwillsandestates.com

08/29/2026

Thinking about setting up a trust to protect your home and life savings? 🏡💰

Before signing anything, make sure you know the difference between a Revocable Trust and an Irrevocable Trust.

Don't let a simple misunderstanding compromise your legacy. Check out our newest blog post to learn how to pick the right trust for your family’s goals.👇

Click here to read the full guide: https://nywillsandestates.com/blog/revocable-vs-irrevocable-trust-mistakes/

Have questions about setting up a trust in New York or New Jersey? We’re here to help!

📞 Call us today: (212) 920-6371
🌐 NY Clients: www.nywillsandestates.com
🌐 NJ Clients: www.njwillsandestates.com

08/28/2026

A question we hear all the time: "If I die without a will, does the state just keep my money?"

While the state doesn't instantly take your assets, dying without a will (known as dying "intestate") leaves your life savings, home, and belongings up to state law—not your personal preferences.

Without a plan:
❌ Your money could go to relatives you didn't intend to include.
❌ Your partner or spouse might face complicated court delays to access accounts.
❌ Your family pays higher probate and legal fees.

👉 Watch the video here: https://youtube.com/shorts/YlXpHMZKIMQ?si=RZ3iiF4gGgV0KOX3

Have questions or need help setting up a will? Give our office a call at (212) 920-6371 or visit us online:
📍 NY: www.nywillsandestates.com
📍 NJ: www.njwillsandestates.com

08/25/2026

I didn’t plan to become an estate planning attorney.

In 2009, I suddenly found myself unemployed after the international company where I was General Counsel collapsed. I was newly engaged, the job market was brutal, and I had no idea what came next.

So I made a decision: build something of my own.

I spent my unemployment checks on law books, found a mentor, learned estate planning from the ground up, and eventually built my own practice.

The journey wasn’t easy. At one point, I was working 80-hour weeks and nearly ready to close the firm. That experience taught me one of the most important lessons of my career: building a successful law firm isn't just about working harder. It's about building the right team, learning to delegate, and staying focused on why you do the work in the first place.

Today, two principles guide me:

1️⃣ You absolutely must love helping people.
2️⃣ You must have fun doing it.

I'm grateful to Amy Cornforth, Esq. for taking the time to speak with me about my journey, leadership, and what it really takes to build a law firm.

If you're interested in the story behind the firm, you can read the full interview here:

Read the full interview on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/vlad-portnoy-founder-law-office-pc-amy-cornforth-esq--1gcxc

Vlad Portnoy is the founder of the Law Office of Vlad Portnoy, an estate planning and elder law firm based in New York City. He has been practicing for more than 16 years, serving clients in wills, trusts, Medicaid planning, and guardianship matters.

08/23/2026

📝 Think writing a Will is as simple as putting your wishes on paper? Think again.

A Will can be one of the most important documents you create, but a mistake, missing provision, or improper ex*****on could create serious problems for your loved ones later.

So, how do you properly write a Will in New York? And what should you include to make sure your wishes are actually carried out?

👉 We break down the key steps, requirements, and common mistakes in our latest guide:

https://nywillsandestates.com/blog/how-to-write-a-will-ny/

📖 Read the full article and learn what you need to know before creating your Will.

📞 Have questions about your estate plan? 516-271-4205. Schedule a consultation with our team today.

08/22/2026

🚨 What would happen to your family if something went wrong with your estate?

Sometimes, the biggest estate-planning lessons come from real-life cases.

In Case File #3, Vlad Portnoy breaks down a real estate-planning situation and the important lessons families can learn from it. You may be surprised by what can go wrong when the right planning isn’t in place.

▶️ Watch the video to see what happened, and what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.https://youtu.be/3cmFC_Y1FPU?si=-I5W5pKieC3HWJHh

📲 Have questions about your own estate plan? Schedule a consultation with our team today. 516-271-4205

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