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Bonnie Lawston

Bonnie Lawston

Probate & Estate Administration
  • Probate
  • Connecticut, Florida, New York
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Biography

We provide probate , estate administration and trust services to clients that have a loved one that died a resident of New York, Long Island or has real estate in New York but died in another state. We also service clients who have an interest in a Florida Estate matter. Ancillary, kinship, estate and probate matters.

A large part of our practice is focused helping our clients who live out-of-state with New York and Florida estate matters who are either executors, heirs,
beneficiaries and trustees who reside all over the country such as Florida, Texas, New Jersey, North and South Carolina, Maryland, and other U.S. states as it relates to the New
York or Florida Estate or Trust matter.

Our office offers unique solutions and options as it relates to attorney fees. We know how difficult it is to afford to hire legal services yet it’s necessary. It has been shown that when you retain an attorney early on in the estate matter, you not only save time and money, stress but also maximize the estate inheritance. Many estates have little cash and mostly real estate value or the family cannot access the estate funds, but our attorneys can not only help you with the estate administration , we can do it with no money due up front. Your legal fees can be paid from the estate. Most all of the estate cases qualify for this unique type of retainers allowing our clients to obtain the legal representation early on that they deserve and desperately need to protect their rights and maximize the inheritance. Don’t sign your rights away. Get counsel now by contacting our office for a free consultation.

Education
Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
J.D.
Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center Logo
Long Island University - C.W. Post Campus
B.A. (1989) | Criminal Justice
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Honors: Criminal Justice Honors
Activities: President Criminal Justice Association - 2 years
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Professional Experience
Founder
Law Office of Bonnie Lawston, P.C.
Current
Certified Member
Guardian Ad Litem Panel for Surrogate Court in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Current
Former Certified Member
18B Family and Criminal Court Panel for Suffolk County Courts,
Current
Former Certified Member
Referee Panel for Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Current
Publications
Articles & Publications
When a Family Member Dies
Law Office of Bonnie Lawston, PC
WHAT DO I DO WHEN A LOVED ONE DIES? by Bonnie Lawston | Mar 3, 2020
Speaking Engagements
Estates & Probate, East Meadow, East Meadow
Trapani Discussions
Investment, insurance, planning and probate
Certifications
Florida Attorney
Florida State Bar
New York State Notary
NY State Licensing
New York State Bar
New York State Bar
Connecticut State Bar
Connecticut State Bar
Connecticut State Bar
Connecticut State Bar
Awards
Poppy Queen
VFE
Professional Associations
New York State Bar
Member
- Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Connecticut
State of Connecticut Judicial Branch
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Florida
The Florida Bar
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New York
New York State Office of Court Administration
ID Number: 2597169
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Fees
  • Free Consultation
    Initial consultations are free!
Practice Area
    Probate
    Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
Additional Practice Areas
  • Estate Administration
  • Fiduciary Rights and Duties
  • Fiduciary Commissions
  • Ancillary Estate & Administration Proceedings
  • Inheritance Rights
  • Intestacy Rights
  • Spousal Rights
  • Children's Rights
  • Kinship Proceedings
  • Estate litigation
  • Will Contests
  • Trust litigation
  • Trust Administration
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Legal Answers
Q. Good afternoon,If a person dies, the person is married, had a will initially with the spouse in it.changes his will on
A: Yes, in NY the spouse needs to file a claim aka a right of election within the statute of limitations period or be barred forever.

you cannot disinherit your spouse. In other words, under New York Probate law if you do not get along with your spouse, but choose to stay married, you cannot use estate planning as away to “get back” at your spouse by cutting him or her out of your will. Under Estates, Powers and Trust, section 5-1.1-A, a spouse is entitled to an "elective share" of the assets which is defined as the greater of $50,000.00 or one-third of the estate.
Q. My mother died in 2001 without a will. How do I retrieve my property?
A: If he is the appointed executor by the probate court, you can make a motion to substitute him as executor because he has passed and the estate assets have not been distributed. The executor cta or new executor will then sell the property, satisfy any outstanding debt and make the distribution in accordance to the terms of the Will and law.
Q. My mom left me her car in her will and I will pay it off with the money from her small estate. If the estate in New York
A: It depends on the language in the Will if you can use estate funds or take the asset subject to the lein. More often you can and should pay off the debt with estate assets. A careful review of the Will provides the answer.
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Social Media
Websites & Blogs
Website
Blog
The Law Office of Bonnie Lawston, NY Estate & Probate
Contact & Map
Law Office of Bonnie Lawston, P.C.
1841 New York Avenue
Huntington, NY 11746
Telephone: (631) 425-7299
Fax: (866) 431-0101
Monday: 9 AM - 8 PM
Tuesday: 9 AM - 8:30 PM (Today)
Wednesday: 9 AM - 10 PM
Thursday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Saturday: 8 AM - 8 PM
Sunday: Closed
Notice: 24/7. You can always reach our attorneys. Leave a message and if after hours and it is an emergency, our attorneys will call you back.