Apryl E. Hand, Esq. | Hand Law, PC | New York City Law FirmApryl E. Hand, Esq. | Hand Law, PC | New York City Law Firm | Apryl E. Hand, Esq. | Hand Law, PC | New York City Law Firm

Residential Real Estate

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At Hand Law, P.C. we understand that for many first-time home buyers, this is the biggest transaction of their lives. We pride ourselves on our dedication to educating our clients and ensuring that they are informed every step of the way, from the first offer to the closing. When representing sellers, we work to anticipate any issues that may come up with a potential buyer or the property being sold so that the transaction proceeds smoothly.

When representing buyers, we provide a thorough, comprehensive array of services, helping to ensure financing proceeds smoothly, and helping our clients perform appropriate due diligence before going into a contract to pay, to be sure our clients get the property they are paying for.

Commercial Real Estate

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At Hand Law, P.C. our commercial property development attorneys offer clients a complete understanding of the market and industry. We are committed to helping our clients focus on the most important issues, tempered with reality, to achieve the best possible outcome for them. We provide thorough review registration of:

Commercial leases, purchases, and sales
Title work
Financial commitments
Closing documentation.

We also assist individuals and business owners seeking tax-free exchanges on investment properties in Brooklyn and Manhattan. In contract negotiations, we thoroughly evaluate the risks each party will incur in order to help avoid complications at the closing. We also document each transaction in detail, for use in your company’s records and accounting department.

Wills & Trusts

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Wills, Trusts and Estates Attorney at Hand Law, P.C. – a Brooklyn, New York Law Firm

Approximately half of all Americans die without a will. This leaves a tremendous potential for conflict and confusion among surviving family members and dear friends. A clear comprehensive estate plan helps provide predictability in an unpredictable time.

At Hand Law, P.C., we offer a variety of Estate Planning services from our excellent and affordable New York Flat Fee Estate Planning Package to comprehensive tax driven estate plans that take into account your current assets as well expected future asset growth.

In addition to drafting more common estate planning documents such as Wills, Health Care Proxies & Medical Directives (also known as “Living Wills”), Powers of Attorney and Designations of Guardian, the Estate Lawyers of Lewis & Hand, LLP can provide customized Trusts, Domestic Partnership Agreementsand Pet Trusts, and are experienced at handling both regular Guardianship and Stand-By Guardianship Proceedings before the Supreme Court in New York counties.

At Lewis & Hand, LLP, our experienced Probate and Administration attorneys represent clients in Probate and Administration Proceedings before the New York Surrogate’s Court. Losing a friend or loved one can be a tremendous blow, and the burden of dealing with their estate can be overwhelming. By hiring an experienced New York Probate lawyer familiar with the process, you can save yourself time, money and difficulty at an already difficult time.

A veteran of the renowned Tax Departments of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pitman, and Proskauer Rose LLP, Attorney Apryl Hand is uniquely qualified to meet your estate planning needs. In addition, equipped with an LLM in Taxation, our newest estate planning attorney Antar P. Jones can help provide comprehensive tax driven estate planning advice for even the more complicated estates.

Commonly Requested New York Estate Planning Services

Wills: A will protects your loved ones by ensuring that you, not the court, will decide how to distribute your assets. Lewis & Hand LLP will work closely with you to develop a will that provides for the care of your minor children, ensures smooth distribution of your estate, and provide security for your loved ones. Wills are available as part of our flat fee Estate Planning package.

Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, and Medical Directives: Attorney Apryl E. Hand is experienced in creating living wills, health care proxies, and medical directives in conjunction with wills or separately. These documents ensure that your wishes will be carried out in the event you are unable to make your own medical decisions. We will help you create documents to reflect your wishes and needs. Our flat fee Estate Planning package includes Health Care Proxies/Medical Directives.

Trusts: Trusts are not just for millionaires! Trusts can be revocable or irrevocable, and generally provide the benefit of allowing assets to pass to their intended recipients without having to go through the Probate process. In addition, since a Trust is a private document, it provides confidentiality that the Probate process—which is on the public record—does not.

Apryl E. Hand’s broad experience and background as a tax attorney will help you to create trusts designed to protect your assets, plan for eldercare, avoid the probate process, and generally assist with all of your estate planning needs.

Legal Incapacity and Guardianship: Lewis & Hand, LLP guardianship lawyers will help you to solve the difficult issues surrounding the incapacitation of a loved one. Our experience handling numerous guardianship proceedings throughout the New York area enables us to resolve these matters quickly and cost-effectively.

Domestic Partnership Agreements (DPAs): Attorney Apryl E. Hand is proud to serve the New York GLBT community through our full range of wills, trusts, and estate planning services, including the drafting of Domestic Partnership Agreements. Apryl Hand has a great deal of experience drafting DPAs from her prior position as a Senior Associate at the GLBT boutique law firm of Kurland & Associates.

Pet Trusts: If you are a pet owner, New York state law allows you to provide for the care of your faithful “best friend” after you are gone. If you have any animals in your life that matter to you as much as you do to them, contact Hand Law, P.C. to discuss setting up an appropriate Pet Trust arrangement for your pet.

We serve Wills, Trusts and Estates clients in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and throughout New York State from offices near the Brooklyn Bridge.

Probate & Administration

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New York Probate and Administration attorney Apryl Hand at the Brooklyn law firm of Hand Law, P.C. helps ensure the most swift, smooth asset transfer possible for clients who have recently lost a loved one. In such distressing times, court proceedings are the last things you want to worry about. We handle all facets of estate administration and probate proceedings, settling the obligations and distributing assets to the beneficiaries.

Contact Hand Law, P.C. today for your initial Probate and Administration consultation.

Listed below are some frequently asked questions about Probate administration and the New York Surrogates Court:

What’s going to happen?
First, someone must be appointed as the estate’s “executor” (if there is a will) or “administrator” (if there is no will). The probate or administration proceeding is usually initiated by the named executor (if there is a will) or a beneficiary or a creditor of the estate (if there is no will), although it can be initiated by any interested party in either situation.

What does it mean to be an executor or administrator of the estate?
The executor or administrator of the estate has a very serious fiduciary responsibility, which involves supervising all distributions, including making sure all last wishes are met, all liabilities are paid off, all beneficiaries receive their fair share of the estate, and all personal property is properly distributed.

The executor or administrator is not personally responsible for the debts of the deceased, but that person must ensure that those debts are paid off with whatever assets are in the estate. Because the task is both crucial and complex, executors often rely heavily on a skilled attorney’s advice.

What’s the difference between a probate and an administration proceeding?
Probate involves presenting the will of the deceased to the Surrogates Court, and having the court enforce that will. Administration proceedings only take place in cases where there is no will (the person dies “intestate“). In this case, New York State guidelines regarding inheritance are then used in lieu of a will. Both proceedings are conducted before the Surrogates Court in the New York county in which the person died, or in which that person held property.

For more information on the Probate and Administration process, and to ensure as smooth a transfer of assets as possible, contact Hand Law, P.C. today.

Small Business Services

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At Hand Law, P.C., we provide sophisticated and experienced services for our clients who own and operate small businesses. Our client-focused practice puts the clients’ needs first, and our attorneys work directly on our clients’ important legal matters. Also, because we operate without a bulky chain of command, our services tend to be very cost-effective. For your initial consultation, contact Hand Law, P.C. today.

• New Business Formation
• Real Estate/Leases

New Business Formation

If you’re ready to set up a new business, there is a dizzying array of questions you must now face. Small business attorney Apryl E. Hand talks with each client, thoroughly reviewing their circumstances, resources, goals, and expectations in order to help them decide what type of business structure they would like to set up.

Do you plan on bringing in investors? Do you plan to eventually sell the business? What sort of liability will your type of business incur? We address all these questions and then walk you through the process of acquiring a Taxpayer ID and setting up your business as a federal and state-recognized entity.

Real Estate and Leases

Whether your business is ready to occupy its first space, is considering taking on subtenants or is expanding to multiple locations, Hand Law, P.C. real estate attorneys can help you negotiate a lease that protects your interests and gives you the flexibility your business requires. To discuss your real estate needs with experienced attorney Apryl E. Hand, contact Hand Law, P.C. today.

Hand Law, P.C.

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Formed in 2005, this Brooklyn based law firm deals in Real Estate, Propate & Estate Planning, and Wills & Trusts.

Apryl E. Hand, Esq.

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Apryl E. Hand, Esq. graduated cum laude from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, was a Managing Editor of the Tulane Law Review and a Member of the Journal of Law & Sexuality.

Ms. Hand’s practice focuses on residential and commercial Real Estate transactions, Estate Planning, Probate and Administration proceedings, and Business & Partnership law.