Determine your legacy, protect your assets and preserve family harmony
A Boutique Estate Planning Firm.
Why a “boutique” law firm?
Boutique firms are small, offer more specialized services and have a shorter client list.
We focus our practice on estate planning, trust administration and probate. We don’t practice bankruptcy, employment law, personal injury, etc. Limiting our practice allows us to deliver comprehensive, specialized services.
A shorter client list allows us to develop stronger relationships and deliver more personalized service.
Services
Estate Planning
Planning for your estate through a Will or Trust help you determine your legacy, it also preserves family harmony when you’re gone and the time comes to distribute your property.
Probate
Probate is the process of legally passing assets after death to the person’s heirs or devices. Probate may occur with or without a will. An “heir” is a person entitled to receive the assets of the person that died without a will.
Trust Administration
A person named as trustee has the duty to administer or manage the trust property according to the terms set forth in the trust for the benefit of the trust beneficiaries, either at death or during incapacity.
Premarital Agreement
A premarital agreement is a contract entered between two persons that plan to marry but want to make sure they can keep some or all of their earnings and property acquired during the marriage as their separate property in the event of a divorce or legal separation.
Guardianship/Conservatorship Proceedings
A guardian or conservator may not be necessary if the ward or protected person has a trustee, or an agent authorized under a Power of Attorney or Health Care Power of Attorney to make decisions for them. Unfortunately, sometimes institutions refuse to honor these documents and a legal proceedings is the only solution.
Estate Planning
Determine your legacy, protect your assets and preserve family harmony.
You’ve worked hard for what you have, and you know exactly how and what you want to leave behind for your family, those other persons you love and organizations that share your values. Even your pets!
Not only does planning for your estate through a Will or Trust help you determine your legacy, it preserves family harmony when you’re gone and the time comes to distribute your property (and pay your bills). Proper planning can even help protect those assets from being squandered or taken by undeserving creditors.
Likewise, you need to think about what is going to happen if you become incapacitated. Who is going to take care of things?
You need a plan in place that will make sure your wishes are followed, not just after you pass, but also in the event you become physically or mentally incapacitated.
What Our Clients Say
A mutual friend recommended Cotto Law Firm to us and we are very satisfied with Sylvina Cotto’s expert guidance in putting together our Living Will & Trust.
Sylvina patiently spent time with us explaining legal terminology and gave us practical suggestions. She is very down-to-earth and we felt completely comfortable with her. I highly recommend her.
Marlo T.
Cotto Law Firm represented my family recently. Sylvina Cotto gave us hope that children who have been through a high-conflict divorce can receive a stable life.
She is very diligent, tenacious and fact-driven. She is smart and will come up with solutions that you as a client did not think was possible. Every form filed was well put together and accurately reflected what was relayed to her and what my family was requesting. She is honest and blunt to the client and the opposing party in a way that gets things done. I would HIGHLY recommend Cotto Law Firm to anyone, especially if children are involved.
Raymond M.
After 25 years of marriage my ex-wife, an attorney, began divorce proceedings and proposed that we navigate the process without individual representation.
I was not comfortable with that suggestion. On the recommendation of another attorney, I hired Ms. Cotto and am extremely pleased with her advocacy on my behalf. She exhibited compassion while providing straightforward advice relating to the issues that arose in my case. I anticipated an easy, amicable divorce but was grateful for Ms. Cotto’s knowledge and expertise when things became more contentious. Sylvina had my best interest in mind at all times. She consistently maintained a professional demeanor with me, my ex-wife, opposing counsel and the Court. Despite a busy schedule that likely included much more complicated cases, Ms. Cotto and her staff (particularly her paralegal, Ms. Reyes) communicated fully and efficiently with me throughout the entire process. If you are considering hiring an attorney for your divorce, a consultation with Ms. Cotto is a superb place to start.
Jack B.
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