Your estate plan may represent the most important set of legal documents you create over the course of your lifetime given that the purpose of your estate plan is to protect you, your assets, and your loved ones. Given how important your estate plan is, selecting an estate planning attorney to assist you in the creation of that plan should be done with a commensurate level of care and consideration. The estate planning attorneys at the Law Offices of Kobrick & Moccia are proud to serve the residents of White Plains, New York with their estate planning needs and we hope to have the chance to help you with yours.
White Plains, New York
White Plains is the county seat and commercial hub of Westchester, an affluent suburban county just north of New York City that is home to almost one million people. As of 2013, the city’s total population was estimated to be 57,866. The city was ranked third in the top 10 places to live in New York for 2014, according to national online real estate brokerage Movoto.
The history of White Plains goes back to the Dutch settlement of Manhattan in the early 17th century when the region was used as farmland by the Weckquaeskeck tribe, members of the Mohican nation. At that time, the areas called “Quarropas” but to early traders it was known as “the White Plains”, either from the groves of white balsam which are said to have covered it or from the heavy mist that local tradition suggests hovered over the swamplands near the Bronx River. The first non-native settlement came in November 1683, when a party of Connecticut Puritans moved westward from an earlier settlement in Rye and bought about 4,400 acres, presumably from the Weckquaeskeck.
On July 9, 1776, a copy of the Declaration of Independence was delivered to the New York Provincial Congress, which was meeting in the county courthouse. The delegates quickly adopted a resolution approving the Declaration, thus declaring both the colony’s independence and the formation of the State of New York. The Declaration itself was first publicly read from the steps of the courthouse on July 11.
White Plains was eventually incorporated as a village in 1866 and later as a city in 1916. In the early part of the 20th century, White Plains’ downtown area developed into a dominant suburban shopping district and featured branch stores of many famous New York-based department and specialty stores. White Plains is still a huge retail destination in the area with Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, Macy’s, Walmart, Burlington Coat Factory, and over 1000 other small and mid-size stores located throughout four malls. White Plains is also home to the Arts Exchange Building, which serves as the headquarters of the Westchester Arts Council. Since March 1999, visual and performing artists, emerging cultural organizations and new creative businesses have studios and offices in the building. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Beginning in 2000, the city’s permanent population experienced a growth spurt as additional apartment buildings were constructed. The city’s close commuting distance to midtown Manhattan (31 minutes by express train) have also attracted a lot of people who commute to New York City for work.
Law Offices of Kobrick & Moccia in the White Plains Community
A well thought out estate plan should protect you, your loved ones, and your assets both now and in the future. To do that, however, care must be taken in both the creation of that plan as well as in updating that plan. Choosing the right estate planning attorney to assist you is a crucial part of creating a personalized and successful estate plan. The attorneys and staff at the Law Offices of Kobrick & Moccia are honored to be able to assist their neighbors in the White Plains community with their estate plans.
Unlike many other legal issues, estate planning is not something that is every really finished or “resolved.” In fact, when estate planning is done correctly, it is a lifelong process that creates a plan that changes and grows along with the plan’s creator. Just as you experience changes during each phase of your life, so should your estate plan change along with you. When you are just starting out in your “adult” life, you may need a simple Last Will and Testament or a Living Trust. Marriage may bring the need for incapacity planning and parenthood the need for a trust to protect your minor child’s inheritance. As you continue to age, you may recognize the need for retirement planning, business succession planning, and eventually long-term care planning. Finally, as you near the end of your life, you may want to make sure you have advanced directives in place and a funeral and burial plan to ensure that your wishes will be honored at the end. At the Law Offices of Kobrick & Moccia, we would be honored to be chosen to be by your side throughout your life’s journey to make sure that you, your assets, and your loved ones are protected.
Contact Us
If you have additional questions regarding the estate planning process, or would like to get started on your White Plains, New York estate plan, contact an experienced estate planning attorney at the Law Offices of Kobrick & Moccia by calling 800-295-1917 to schedule your appointment.
