Picking an estate planning attorney often comes down to scope: on the first call, you want to confirm that what the firm proposes matches your New York trusts-and-estates goals, your existing documents (if any), and your timeline. Beress & Zalkind PLLC (Trusts & Estates) publicly lists its focus as Trusts and Estates, along with related areas including Elder Law, Tax, and Real Estate. The firm also provides a Brooklyn inquiry number: (718) 513-3588.
Use the points below as discussion anchors, aiming for concrete answers about deliverables and process rather than broad, general advice.
Pin down the exact matter type they’ll handle (not just “estate planning”)
Estate planning conversations can expand quickly. Ask the attorney to name the specific category they will take responsibility for—will drafting, trust setup, estate administration support, or a planning update. Since the firm lists practice areas that include “Estates, Trusts & Probate” and “Elder Law,” it’s fair to clarify whether your request is primarily trusts-and-estates planning, probate-related support, or elder-law decision planning.
Ask what they will produce, and what “included” means in writing
Two clients can both say they want a living trust, yet the documents and coordination work can differ. During intake, request a plain-language explanation of what will be prepared and what may fall outside the engagement. Then ask for a written summary of deliverables and the general sequence (for example: draft review, revisions, and final execution steps).
The firm’s public positioning emphasizes that it is devoted to trusts and estates, plus related areas. Use that to ask whether your engagement will remain centered on trusts-and-estates work, and how related topics are handled when they overlap with your plan.
Confirm how tax issues are addressed as part of the trusts-and-estates work
Tax planning is often intertwined with estate planning, but intake should clarify what level of tax coordination is actually provided. Ask whether tax issues are addressed as part of the planning work and how that is documented in the deliverables you receive.
One specific signal the firm provides is attorney Viktoria Beress’s background: the firm states she has an LL.M. in Taxation from NYU and is also a CPA. That detail supports asking for specifics—what tax topics are considered in the planning stage, and how those considerations show up in the final plan and client-facing materials.
Discuss how they handle complexity when facts extend beyond a single situation
If your facts include assets across different jurisdictions, international considerations, or creditor-related concerns, ask how the firm identifies those issues and what changes in the approach. The firm’s materials mention planning that can involve international issues and creditor protection considerations. Rather than assuming your scenario fits that description, ask the attorney to explain—using your fact pattern—what would change in the plan and what additional questions they still need answered.
Clarify your intake inputs: what you should bring before drafting starts
Speed and accuracy depend on the information gathered up front. Ask what documents or household information the firm expects before drafting begins, and whether intake follows a structured process for collecting it. Even if you already know what you want, intake is where the firm verifies that the plan can be built from your current documents, assets, and family priorities.
At a practical level, be ready to discuss identity information, ownership of key assets, prior estate planning documents (if any), and beneficiary preferences. Then ask the firm to confirm whether updates to existing documents are treated as a full rewrite versus a targeted amendment.
End the call with a “deliverables and revisions” check
Before you decide to sign anything, ask for a clear scope check that reduces the chance of rework. A useful closing question is: what the firm will prepare, what will be reviewed with you, and what happens if new issues arise—such as changes to beneficiaries, asset transfers, or timing constraints.
Also ask how revisions are communicated and how you confirm that the final execution steps match what you approved in draft form. The goal is straightforward: the engagement should produce the documents you expect, built on the inputs you provided during the New York intake.
