I'm going to tell you something that surprises people. Most estate planning firms in New York charge $250 to $500 just to sit down and talk. Before you've signed anything. Before they've done a minute of work. Just to hear what you need.

We don't do that. Never have. In 20+ years of running Morgan Legal Group, I've never charged a dime for an initial consultation. And I'm going to explain exactly why.

It's not charity. It's not a gimmick. It's how I believe the practice of law should work. You deserve to understand your situation before you spend money. Period.

This article tells you everything about our free consultation — what happens, what to bring, how long it takes, who you'll meet with, and what comes after. I wrote it because the number one question my office gets is: "What's the catch?" There's no catch. But I understand why people ask. So let me lay it all out.

Why Most Firms Charge for Consultations (and Why We Think That's Wrong)

Let me be blunt. Most law firms charge for initial consultations because they can. Demand for estate planning attorneys in Manhattan is high. Supply is limited. When you're a lawyer with a full calendar, charging for consultations filters out people who aren't serious.

I get the logic. I just don't agree with it.

Here's why. When someone calls our office — say it's a woman from the Upper West Side whose husband just died — she doesn't know what she needs yet. She doesn't know if she needs probate help, a trust revision, or just a conversation about what comes next. Charging her $400 to find out feels wrong to me.

Or take the young couple in Astoria who just had their first baby. They know they should have a will. They've Googled it. They've seen prices ranging from $99 on LegalZoom to $5,000 at a white-shoe firm. They have no frame of reference. They need guidance, not a bill.

In 20+ years of practice, with 5,000+ families served, I've learned something: people who feel comfortable become great clients. People who feel pressured become nobody's clients. They go home, do nothing, and their families pay the price later.

The free consultation removes the barrier. It lets you walk in, sit down, and tell me your story without a meter running. That's it. That's the whole philosophy.

What Actually Happens During the Consultation — Step by Step

I want to take the mystery out of this. Here's exactly what a consultation at Morgan Legal Group looks like, from the minute you arrive to the minute you leave.

Step 1: You Check In (2 Minutes)

Our office is at 15 Maiden Lane, Suite 905, in the Financial District. It's a short walk from the Fulton Street subway station. You'll take the elevator to the ninth floor. Our front desk team will greet you, offer you coffee or water, and let you settle in.

If your consultation is by phone or video, you'll get a call or a Zoom link at the scheduled time. Same process. Same attention. We've done thousands of virtual consultations since 2020, and honestly, they work just as well for an initial conversation.

Step 2: We Sit Down Together (5 Minutes)

I personally handle a large number of initial consultations. Not an associate. Not a paralegal. Me. When I'm not available, one of our senior attorneys takes the meeting — but I want you to know that the founding partner of this firm takes these meetings seriously.

Why? Because the first five minutes tell me almost everything I need to know about your situation. I've done this over 5,000 times. I can tell within minutes whether you need a simple will, a full estate plan, Medicaid planning, or something else entirely.

Step 3: You Tell Me Your Story (10 Minutes)

This is your time. I'll ask questions, but mostly I'll listen. I want to know:

Nobody's judging you. I've heard every family situation you can imagine. Blended families. Estranged children. Secret bank accounts. Parents with dementia. Nothing shocks me anymore. My job is to listen and understand, not to judge.

Step 4: I Evaluate Your Situation (5 Minutes)

Based on what you've told me, I'll give you a clear assessment. I don't use jargon. I won't bury you in legal terms. I'll tell you, in plain English:

I'll also tell you what you don't need. This matters. A lot of firms upsell. They tell a 28-year-old single person with a studio apartment and $30,000 in savings that they need a revocable trust. That's nonsense. A simple will and a healthcare proxy might be all you need right now. I'll say that. I'll say it clearly.

Step 5: You Ask Questions (5-10 Minutes)

Now it's your turn again. People usually ask things like:

Step 6: We Wrap Up (2-3 Minutes)

I'll summarize what we discussed. If you want to move forward, my team will schedule the next step. If you want to think about it, that's fine. If you decide to go with another attorney, that's fine too. I'd rather you make the right choice than a fast one.

Total time: about 30 minutes. Sometimes a little longer if your situation is complicated. I don't rush people.

The 30-Minute Promise: Every free consultation at Morgan Legal Group lasts at least 30 minutes. You'll leave with a clear understanding of your legal situation, a specific recommendation, and a flat-fee quote — all at no cost and no obligation.

What to Bring to Your Free Consultation

You don't need to bring anything. Really. I can evaluate your situation based on a conversation alone. But if you want to get the most out of your 30 minutes, here's what helps:

For Estate Planning Consultations

For Probate Consultations

For Elder Law and Medicaid Consultations

Again — if you show up with nothing but yourself, that's perfectly fine. We'll work with what you have.

The Questions You Should Ask Your Attorney (Including Me)

Here's something most people don't think about: the consultation isn't just for the lawyer to evaluate you. It's for you to evaluate the lawyer. You're hiring someone to protect your family. That's a big deal. Ask tough questions.

Here are the questions I'd ask if I were sitting where you are:

  1. "How many estate plans have you drafted?" — You want someone with volume. I've personally overseen more than 5,000. That number matters because every scenario you can think of, I've probably seen it three times.
  2. "Do you charge flat fees or hourly?" — Hourly billing is a nightmare for estate planning clients. You never know the final cost. We charge flat fees for everything. You know the price before you start.
  3. "Will you personally handle my case?" — At big firms, the partner meets you, then hands you off to a junior associate. I don't operate that way.
  4. "How long have you practiced in New York?" — New York estate law is unique. The EPTL, the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act, the state estate tax cliff — these are New York-specific landmines. You need someone who knows them cold.
  5. "Can you explain my situation without using legal jargon?" — If a lawyer can't explain your situation in plain English, they either don't understand it or they're trying to impress you. Neither is good.
  6. "What happens if my situation changes after you draft the documents?" — Good firms build in review periods. We offer ongoing support and updates.
  7. "Do you handle both estate planning and probate?" — This matters more than people realize. A firm that does both understands how plans hold up in court. We handle both. Every day.

Ask me all of these. I welcome them. The attorneys who get uncomfortable with direct questions are the ones you should worry about.

Phone, Video, or In-Person — Your Choice

We offer three ways to do your free consultation. Each one gives you the same attention, the same expertise, and the same result.

In-Person at Our Manhattan Office

15 Maiden Lane, Suite 905, New York, NY 10038. Right in the Financial District. Easy subway access — Fulton Street (2/3/4/5/A/C/J/Z) is a block away. If you're driving, there are several garages on Maiden Lane and John Street.

In-person consultations are great when you have documents to show us, or when you just want the experience of sitting across from your attorney. A lot of our older clients prefer this. I get it. There's something about a handshake that a Zoom call can't replace.

Video Consultation via Zoom

You'll get a link after you book. Join from your phone, tablet, or computer. We can share screens if I need to show you something — a tax chart, a diagram of how a trust works, a sample timeline. Video works well for people who live in the outer boroughs or suburbs but want face-to-face interaction.

Phone Consultation

Simple. We call you at the scheduled time. No apps, no links, no technical setup. A lot of people prefer this — especially during a work day. You can do it from your office, your car, or your kitchen table. The conversation is the same.

To book any of these, you can call us at (212) 561-4299 or schedule online. We typically have availability within 48 hours.

Real People, Real Consultations: Stories from Our Office

I want to tell you about a few consultations that stick with me. Names are changed, but the stories are real. They show what a free consultation can do for a family.

Maria from Washington Heights: "I Almost Paid $4,000 for Something I Didn't Need"

Maria called us in January. Her mother, 78 years old, had just been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's. Maria was terrified. She'd already spoken to another attorney who told her she needed a full irrevocable trust, a Medicaid asset protection plan, and a guardianship petition. Total quoted cost: $4,200.

Maria's mother owned no real estate. She had $40,000 in savings, Social Security income, and a small pension. She lived in a rent-stabilized apartment.

I told Maria the truth. Her mother didn't need an irrevocable trust. She didn't need a guardianship petition — not yet. What she needed was a durable power of attorney, a healthcare proxy, and a simple will. Cost: under $1,500.

I also told her that in 18-24 months, if her mother's condition progressed, we might need to revisit Medicaid planning. But right now? The $4,200 plan from the other firm was overkill. Maria cried in my office. She said, "Nobody else told me the truth."

That's what a free consultation is for. To get the truth before you spend money.

Tom from Park Slope: "I Was Quoted $15,000 for a Simple Will"

Tom is a tech executive. High income. Owns a brownstone in Park Slope and a rental property in Bed-Stuy. Married, two kids under 10. He went to a well-known Manhattan estate planning firm — one with marble lobbies and oil paintings. They quoted him $15,000 for a full estate plan.

Tom came to me for a second opinion. In 30 minutes, I walked him through what he actually needed: a pour-over will, a revocable living trust (smart for his real estate holdings), powers of attorney, and healthcare proxies for both him and his wife. Our flat fee: $4,500 for both spouses.

That's not a discount. That's the right price for the work involved. The other firm was charging for their address, not their expertise.

Tom signed with us that week. His estate plan was done in 18 days.

Sandra and James from Queens: "We Didn't Know We Had a Problem"

Sandra and James are both 55. They'd been married 30 years. They came in thinking they just needed to update their old wills — documents they'd drafted in 1998 with another attorney.

During the consultation, I asked about their assets. They owned their house in Bayside (worth about $1.2 million), had retirement accounts totaling $800,000, and a life insurance policy worth $500,000. Total estate: roughly $2.5 million.

I showed them something nobody had explained before. New York's estate tax exemption in 2026 is $7.16 million — so they were fine on the federal level. But New York has a "cliff" provision. If your estate exceeds 105% of the state exemption, the entire estate becomes taxable. Not just the excess. The whole thing.

Their 1998 wills had no tax planning. No trust structure. If both of them died tomorrow, their kids could owe over $100,000 in state estate taxes that were entirely avoidable.

They didn't know. How would they? They're not lawyers. That's what the consultation uncovered — a six-figure problem they didn't know they had.

David from the Bronx: "You Told Me I Didn't Need You"

David is 34. Single. No kids. Rents an apartment in Kingsbridge. Has about $60,000 in a 401(k) and a checking account with $8,000. His parents are alive and healthy.

He came in because he'd read online that "everyone needs an estate plan." I told him the truth: right now, he doesn't need us. His 401(k) passes to his named beneficiary. His bank account is small enough that it wouldn't require probate. A simple will and a healthcare proxy — which he could even get through his employer's legal plan if he has one — would be enough.

I told him to come back when he buys property, gets married, or has kids. He was surprised. He thanked me. And he told three friends about us. Two of them became clients.

That's how it works. Honesty is the best marketing strategy I've ever found.

When We Tell You "You Don't Need Us Yet"

This might seem like a strange thing for a lawyer to admit, but I turn people away regularly. Not because I don't want their business. Because I'd rather be honest than take money for services someone doesn't need.

Here are situations where I'll tell you to wait:

Other firms won't tell you this. They'll take your money, draft documents, and charge you again when your situation changes six months later. I won't. It's bad practice and it's bad for long-term relationships.

What We Evaluate During Your Consultation

In 30 minutes, I'm assessing several things at once. Here's a peek behind the curtain at what's going through my mind while we talk:

Your Risk Profile

How exposed are you right now? If you died tomorrow without a will, what happens to your family? If you became incapacitated, who has authority to act? These aren't hypothetical questions. I've seen families destroyed by the answers.

Your Asset Structure

Different assets pass in different ways. Real estate needs different treatment than retirement accounts. Life insurance has its own rules. Business interests are their own animal. I'm mapping all of this in my head while you talk.

Your Family Dynamics

This is where estate planning gets real. Blended families. Kids who don't get along. A son with a spending problem. A daughter-in-law you don't trust. A special needs child who can't lose government benefits. Every family has its wrinkles. I need to know yours to build a plan that works.

Your Tax Exposure

New York's estate tax is aggressive. The 2026 exemption sits at $7.16 million — sounds high, but in a city where a three-bedroom apartment costs $1.5 million, you'd be surprised how fast estates add up. I'm calculating your exposure during the conversation. If there's a tax problem, I'll tell you immediately.

Your Timeline

Some situations are urgent. A parent entering a nursing home needs Medicaid planning now — the 5-year look-back period means every month counts. A terminal diagnosis compresses everything. Other situations can wait. I'll tell you which one yours is.

Why "Free" Doesn't Mean "Low Quality"

I hear this concern sometimes. "If the consultation is free, is the work cheap too?" It's a fair question. Here's the honest answer.

The consultation is free because it's a conversation. I'm not drafting documents. I'm not filing anything with the court. I'm listening, evaluating, and advising. That takes expertise — 20+ years of it — but it doesn't take billable hours of document preparation.

The actual legal work isn't free. And it isn't cheap. A well-drafted estate plan from our firm typically runs between $1,500 and $7,500, depending on complexity. A probate matter depends on the estate size and whether there's a dispute. Elder law work varies based on the Medicaid strategy involved.

But every dollar you spend with us goes toward actual legal work. Not toward paying for the consultation, which is already behind us.

Our track record speaks for itself. Over 5,000 families. Over two decades. In 2025 alone, we handled more than 400 new estate planning matters. We're not a discount firm. We're a firm that doesn't believe in charging people for the privilege of being heard.

Our Track Record: 5,000+ families served across New York. 20+ years of experience. Every consultation with a licensed attorney — not a paralegal, not a secretary, not a chatbot. Real lawyers having real conversations about your life.

What Happens After the Consultation

Let's say you meet with me and decide to move forward. Here's the process, so there are no surprises:

Day 1: You Retain Us

You'll sign an engagement letter that spells out exactly what we're doing and exactly what it costs. The flat fee is the flat fee. No surprises. No add-ons. You'll pay a portion upfront, with the balance due when documents are ready for signing.

Days 2-7: We Gather Information

My team will send you a questionnaire. It's detailed — beneficiary names, asset values, property addresses, account numbers. This is the raw material we use to draft your documents. Most people complete it in a day or two.

Days 8-14: We Draft

I personally review every estate plan before it goes to a client. Every one. I don't delegate the review. You'll receive draft documents for your review, with a plain-English summary of what each document does.

Days 15-21: Review and Revise

You read the drafts. You ask questions. We make changes. There's no extra charge for revisions. This is included in the flat fee. Most clients have one round of changes. Some have three. It doesn't matter. We get it right.

Days 21-28: Signing Ceremony

You'll come to our office (or we'll arrange a video signing if appropriate). We provide the witnesses and notary — that's included. You'll leave with executed originals and copies. We store a backup set in our secure system.

Start to finish: about 2-4 weeks for most estate plans. Probate matters and guardianship cases take longer because courts are involved.

The No-Pressure Promise

I need to address this directly because it's what people worry about most. They're afraid they'll walk into a sales pitch. That I'll pressure them into signing something during the first meeting.

I don't. Ever. And here's why.

Estate planning is personal. You're deciding who raises your children if you die. You're deciding who gets your house, your savings, your business. These aren't decisions you make under pressure in a 30-minute meeting.

After our consultation, about 60% of people retain us within a week. About 20% take a month or more. About 20% never come back — and that's okay. Some of them didn't need us. Some went with another attorney. Some just aren't ready yet.

I don't follow up with aggressive sales calls. My team might send one email a week later to see if you have questions. That's it. If you want to move forward, you call us. If you don't, we respect that completely.

This approach has worked for 20+ years. Our practice grows through referrals, not pressure tactics. When you do right by people, they tell their families. When they tell their families, we stay busy. It's that simple.

How to Book Your Free Consultation

You've got three options:

1. Call Us

Dial (212) 561-4299. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. A real person answers the phone — not a recording, not a phone tree. Tell them you'd like a free consultation. They'll find a time that works.

2. Book Online

Visit our scheduling page and pick a time. You can choose phone, video, or in-person. The system shows real-time availability. Most people can get an appointment within 48 hours.

3. Visit Our Google Business Page

Find us on Google, read our reviews, and click the "Request a Consultation" button. You'll see hundreds of reviews from real clients. We're proud of what they say about us.

Who Comes to Our Free Consultations? (It Might Be People Like You)

Over the years, I've noticed patterns. Certain life events trigger the call. Here are the most common:

New Parents

Having a baby changes everything. Suddenly the question "who would raise my child?" has real urgency. Most new parents come in within six months of their first child's birth. They need wills with guardian designations, life insurance review, and basic estate planning.

Recent Widows and Widowers

The surviving spouse often needs to update their own plan, deal with the deceased spouse's estate, and sometimes handle probate. These consultations tend to be longer and more emotional. We take our time.

People Approaching Retirement

Ages 55-65 is the sweet spot. You've accumulated assets. Your kids might be grown. You're thinking about what happens next. These clients often need the most complex plans — trusts, tax strategies, asset protection.

Children of Aging Parents

A parent gets sick. A parent falls. A parent starts showing signs of cognitive decline. The adult child calls us, often panicked, asking what to do. These consultations focus on powers of attorney, healthcare proxies, and Medicaid planning.

Homebuyers

You just bought a $900,000 apartment in Brooklyn. Congratulations. Now you have an asset that needs legal protection. Many first-time homebuyers don't have any estate planning documents at all. The purchase triggers the conversation.

People Who Got Bad News

A cancer diagnosis. A heart condition. An unexpected surgery. Nobody wants to think about mortality. But when you get news like this, estate planning stops being abstract and becomes immediate. We handle these consultations with sensitivity and speed.

Questions People Always Ask

Let me knock out the common questions I hear in almost every consultation.

"Do I really need a trust, or is a will enough?"

It depends on what you own. If your New York real estate is worth over $50,000 (and in 2026, basically every property in the five boroughs is), a trust helps you avoid probate on that property. Probate in New York takes 9-24 months and is public. A trust is private and immediate. For most homeowners, I recommend a trust. For renters with modest assets, a will is usually fine.

"How much does estate planning cost?"

A basic will package (will, healthcare proxy, power of attorney) starts at $1,500. A trust-based estate plan runs $3,500-$5,500. A complex multi-generational plan with tax strategies can go up to $7,500. These are flat fees. No hourly surprises.

"What's the difference between you and LegalZoom?"

LegalZoom generates documents from templates. They don't know you. They don't know New York law. They can't adapt to your family's specific situation. I've seen dozens of LegalZoom wills fail in Surrogate's Court because they didn't comply with New York's execution requirements under EPTL § 3-2.1. A $200 online will that doesn't work costs your family far more than a $1,500 will that does.

"Is my consultation really confidential?"

Yes. Attorney-client privilege applies from the moment you speak with us, even during a free consultation, even if you never hire us. The New York State Bar Association rules are clear on this. Nothing you tell us leaves our office.

"Can I bring my family to the consultation?"

Absolutely. Spouses should come together if possible — most estate plans involve both. Adult children are welcome too, especially for elder law matters. Just let us know who's coming so we can prepare the right-sized conference room.

Our Office: Where You'll Be Coming

Morgan Legal Group is at 15 Maiden Lane, Suite 905, New York, NY 10038. We're in the heart of the Financial District, two blocks from the World Trade Center and one block from the Fulton Street transit hub.

The office is professional but not intimidating. No marble columns. No pretension. You'll find a comfortable conference room, good coffee, and lawyers who dress well but talk straight.

We're open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Saturday consultations are available by special arrangement — just ask when you call.

Why I Built This Firm the Way I Did

I started Morgan Legal Group because I believed there was a better way to serve families. I'd worked at firms where clients were numbers. Where the initial consultation was a revenue line item. Where associates drafted plans and partners barely glanced at them.

I didn't want that. I wanted a firm where people felt heard. Where the attorney they met on day one was the attorney who saw their case through. Where fees were fair and transparent. Where nobody paid just to tell their story.

Twenty years later, that's still what we are. The firm has grown — we've got a team of skilled attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff. But the principles haven't changed. The free consultation is the foundation of everything we do. It's how we build trust. And in estate planning, trust is everything.

If you've been putting off estate planning because you weren't sure where to start, start here. Call (212) 561-4299. Book a free consultation. Sit down with me or one of my senior attorneys. Ask us anything. There's no meter running. There's no pressure. Just a conversation about your family's future.

That's what we do. That's who we are. And after 5,000+ families, I wouldn't change a thing.

Ready to Take the First Step?

Here's the thing about estate planning: the best time to do it was ten years ago. The second best time is today. I've sat across from too many families who said, "We were going to do this last year." Sometimes that delay costs them. Sometimes it costs a lot.

A 30-minute conversation can change that. No cost. No obligation. No pressure. Just call us at (212) 561-4299 or reach out online. We'll find a time that works for you — in person, by video, or by phone.

Your family's future is worth 30 minutes. Let's talk.