The Law Offices of Everett G. Sussman

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United States
Stratford, CT
The Law Offices of Everett G. Sussman

An estate planning and probate administration law office.

08/13/2026

Your Lawyer: the Negotiator

One of the many hats worn by a probate lawyer is that of a negotiator. There are two aspects: sometimes, the lawyer serves as an objective advocate, free of the emotional baggage that often complicates probate disputes. In this way, the lawyer can advocate on behalf of his client, in order to work with opposing counsel to arrive at a fair resolution.

The other aspect involves the lawyer counseling his client - providing a "reality check," when needed, to educate the client regarding possible outcomes, and opportunities. A client sometimes needs a trusted advocate to curb their worst impulses, and bring the conflict to a reasonable end.

When looking for an attorney to assist you with a probate conflict, look for one who is experienced, and skilled, in both aspects. This will maximize your chances of a fair, practical, and swift result.

08/10/2026

A Family Thing

Every family is different. In fact, the same family, given ten years, is different. This may seem obvious, but it has serious implications for estate planning.

Estate planning software (DIY) is designed to handle the most common, basic situations. It can only ask the questions it has been programmed to ask - and the non-lawyer (YOU) don't know all the questions you need to ask. As a result, the estate plan generated is insufficient - and your family is not protected.

Another problem is perception. Since every family is different, what works for your neighbor, may not work for you. Not everyone needs a living trust, or a life use deed, or some other estate planning tool. You need family-specific solutions.

Lastly, your family changes. Kids grow up, parents get old, friends move away, assets change. Keep an eye on your estate plan. If you can't remember exactly when you last updated it... it is time for a review.

Your estate plan should reflect the needs of your family, as it is, right now. If it does not, make an appointment.

08/06/2026

Thinking of retiring?

If you are starting to think about your retirement, whether you built the company from the ground up, or are just an employee, it's time to talk with your estate planning attorney. There may be options to help protect your pension, your income, and your future.

The time to plan for retirement is now. Make an appointment, today.

08/03/2026

You can't always get what you want.

Once in a while, you have a moment where the heavens align, and everything is going in the right direction.

Unfortunately, you can't make that moment last forever.

For the other moments, there is estate planning. Make an appointment, today, to discuss your options. After all, all you can do is play the hand you're dealt, right?

07/30/2026

Planning the After-Party

One part of estate planning is often overlooked - how to celebrate the memory of the deceased. Should there be a fancy funeral? A quiet cremation? A Celebration of Life? A Viking funeral? Should the body be transported to another nation? Are there specific religious rites that need to be observed?

One thing is certain: nobody will know your wishes if you do not write them down. Make sure to tell your attorney your wishes. You can even help prepare by allocating funds specifically for the purpose.

When in doubt, ask your attorney about your options, and how best to ensure that what you want, is what happens.

07/23/2026

What a Lawyer for?

I often tell my estate planning clients: "Your job is to tell me what you want to have happen. My job is to figure out how to do it." This is often true - I need my client to tell me if one child needs extra asset protection, or a family member must be prevented from becoming a guardian. I determine the appropriate documents (will, trust, etc.) and language to use, to accomplish those goals.

Sometimes, however, it is the lawyer's job to stop a client from doing what they think they want to do. This can stem from a client's misunderstanding of the law ("Make sure to leave my good-for-nothing brother $1.00, so he can't sue"), or a well meaning desire to accomplish something that would become a nightmare for their heirs ("I want to leave my home to thirteen charities and give my grandchildren the right to keep living there.")

At the end of the day, you hire an attorney for their expertise. Listen carefully to their advice.

07/20/2026

The Estate Planning "Specialty"

The Law is a funny thing. There are many regulations to help the public not be misled by legal terminology or marketing, but the legal profession is still seen as unethical and unscrupulous.

A case in point: the use of the term "specialty" is strictly limited. In most States, only a few areas of the law are permitted to use the term, generally because of additional training or education (e.g. tax, patent, military, or canon law).

For all other areas of law, including estate planning, an attorney may say they "focus" on that area; they are "experienced" in that area, or perhaps they "concentrate" on that part of the legal code.

The moral of the story? When it comes to the many non-officially-specialized areas of law, make sure that your attorney is experienced, focused, and concentrates on what you need them to do.

07/17/2026

Nothing is guaranteed when you walk into a courtroom. The best way to win, when it comes to probate, is not to have a hearing in the first place.

If your attorney does their job properly, and is careful to ensure that your estate planning documents are clear, precise, and accomplish your goals, then you may avoid the uncertainty of having a hearing.

Having a smooth, easy, uncontested, boring probate process is much better than dealing with contested hearings.

I guarantee it.

07/13/2026

THIS is what an advocate is for, sometimes:

"Piglet?" said Pooh.
"Yes?" said Piglet.
"I'm scared," said Pooh.
For a moment, there was silence.
"Would you like to talk about it?" asked Piglet, when Pooh didn't appear to be saying anything further.
"I'm just so scared," blurted out Pooh.
"So anxious. Because I don't feel like things are getting any better. If anything, I feel like they might be getting worse. People are angry, because they're so scared, and they're turning on one another, and there seems to be no clear plan out of here, and I worry about my friends and the people I love, and I wish SO much that I could give them all a hug, and oh, Piglet! I am so scared, and I cannot tell you how much I wish it wasn't so."
Piglet was thoughtful, as he looked out at the blue of the skies, peeping between the branches of the trees in the Hundred Acre Wood, and listened to his friend.
"I'm here," he said, simply. "I hear you, Pooh. And I'm here."
For a moment, Pooh was perplexed.
"But... aren't you going to tell me not to be so silly? That I should stop getting myself into a state and pull myself together? That it's hard for everyone right now?"
"No," said Piglet, quite decisively. "No, I am very much not going to do any of those things."
“But - " said Pooh.
"I can't change the world right now," continued Piglet. "And I am not going to patronize you with platitudes about how everything will be okay because I don't know that.
"What I can do, though, Pooh, is that I can make sure that you know that I am here. And that I will always be here, to listen; and to support you; and for you to know that you are heard.
"I can't make those Anxious Feelings go away, not really.
"But I can promise you that, all the time I have breath left in my body...you won't ever need to feel those Anxious Feelings alone."
And it was a strange thing, because even as Piglet said that, Pooh could feel some of those Anxious Feelings start to loosen their grip on him and could feel one or two of them start to slither away into the forest, cowed by his friend, who sat there stolidly next to him.
Pooh thought he had never been more grateful to have Piglet in his life.

07/09/2026

Managing Expectations

In some families, there is an expectation by one or more individuals (usually the children) for a certain type or level of inheritance. Where that expectation is not met, for whatever reason, there is an increased risk of litigation.

Sometimes, the risk can be minimized by communication during lifetime. If you are going to leave unequal amounts to different children, you may want to talk to them to explain why. In families that lack that level of open communication, your lawyer can help draft appropriate language to protect your estate plans against the disappointment of unhappy heirs.

No drafting techniques can completely eliminate the possibility of a will contest. I advise my clients: "I can't promise that nobody will sue, but I can help ensure they won't win."

If you have concerns about one or more heirs, or are expecting someone to challenge your desired estate plan, make an appointment, today.

Address

215 Short Beach Road
Stratford, CT
06615

Telephone

+12032318946

Website

https://www.linkedin.com/in/egsesq, https://www.estatelawonline.com/

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