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.

09/24/2026

Protecting Nice People, Since 1993.

Since opening my practice in 1993, I have represented many families and individuals, with all sorts of different needs and concerns. In fact, one of the aspects which I enjoy the most is, in all these years, I have never experienced the same week, twice. That being said, my favorite activity must be utilizing my skills and experience to help nice people.

Whether I am helping someone's grandmother continue living in her home, protecting children against the guardianship claim of an unfit relative, or easing the stress and burdens of a new widow, I see my role as that of an advocate - protecting my client's wishes against their fears. As I have said often: "I help people sleep at night."

If you, or someone you know, is a nice person - send them my way.

09/22/2026

There's a word for that.

Every industry has its specific jargon; certain words, phrases, and abbreviations that mean something special in that context, and something different for outside people. The classic example is asking someone to pronounce the word, "unionized." How they pronounce it will tell you if they are chemists or labor leaders.

Law is no exception. Certain words mean one thing to the outside world, another thing to lawyers. One of the many reasons to be wary of D-I-Y legal work is the damage that can be done by well-meaning individuals who do not realize what they are saying.

As a client, ask questions of your lawyer, to ensure that you understand the meaning of the language he uses. Don't sign anything you do not understand. As always, if your lawyer can't, or won't, explain what your papers mean... it is time to get a new lawyer.

09/17/2026

Not What You Expected

An underappreciated aspect of an estate planning law practice is the opportunity to use one's creativity to imagine unlikely scenarios... and prepare for them.

What if the terminally-ill spouse outlives the healthy one? What if a child chooses not to go to college? What if a charity closes, before the client dies? I have worked with all of these situations, and prior planning kept families from chaotic disasters.

Make sure that your estate planning attorney is both experienced, and creative. Sometimes, what we don't expect... is exactly what happens.

09/14/2026

There are no guarantees.

When walking into court, be aware that there are no guarantees. Witnesses, attorneys, and judges are all human. All humans have biases, and make mistakes. Every court hearing involves risk.

The best way to minimize risk in your estate is to avoid the courtroom, whenever possible. The first step is finding an attorney with experience, who can craft your estate plan in a way that minimizes that risk (and, no, just getting a living trust is NOT usually the answer). The second step is communicating with the people involved (especially family members), so everyone understands what your wishes are, and what each person's job is.

If these two steps are done properly, nearly all courtroom risks can be eliminated. Get started, today - make an appointment with an experienced estate planning attorney.

09/10/2026

Step by Step

Drafting complex trusts resembles telling a story - a story that has not happened, yet. The attorney takes priorities, and events, one step at a time, to ensure that nothing is missed, and everything is taken care of. For example: a trust might contemplate what would happen if one adult dies, then if two adults die, then if one or more children pass, then on to the grandchildren. Each step requires focus, attention, and shifting priorities and needs.

When your attorney asks seemingly ridiculous questions (e.g. What if your whole family died at once?), they are trying to put the trust together, one step at a time.

Take the first step: make an appointment, and get the process started.

09/08/2026

You Can't Take it With You

Every trust must contain - at a minimum - three parts. The trust must be created by someone, must contain something of value, and must have a way for all the trust assets to be distributed, eventually. If a trust is missing one of these three, it collapses, and ceases to exist.

A good estate planning attorney takes pains to follow the various future possibilities, to ensure that every path leads to a complete distribution. Questions such as: What if this person dies first; what if a grandchild never graduates college; or what if the surviving spouse is pregnant; lead to nightmare scenarios that must be considered, and protected against, to ensure the strength and effectiveness of the trust document.

When talking with your estate planning attorney, ask the crazy questions of "what if." If you don't get satisfactory answers... consider getting a new attorney.

09/03/2026

Do Your Homework

As the school year begins, it is a good time to remember that estate planning often involves homework assignments.

I often meet with new clients who do not yet have all the answers, usually because they did not know the questions. They will tell me their choice for executor, but have not given any thought to a successor. Their children should not receive their entire inheritance at eighteen, but when should distributions be made? They want to donate to their church, but how much?

Estate planning includes homework. I send my clients home with an assignment, and their answers are incorporated into the finished project.

Help your estate plan go smoothly. Do your homework.

08/31/2026

"You Have the Right to Remain Silent" - Estate Planning Edition

Most people are aware of their right to remain silent during governmental, coercive questioning (sometimes referred to as "Miranda rights") - it gets a lot of exposure during criminal dramas on TV. Unfortunately, far fewer people seem to realize that you have the right to remain silent during estate planning.

Now, to be clear: I do not mean that you should keep any useful information or concerns from your attorney. Your job as a client is to tell your lawyer what you want to accomplish, and what you want to avoid. It is the lawyer's job to put that into the appropriate words and documents to achieve your goals.

No, I am referring to the desire of some clients to include, in detail, the reasons a loved one is not receiving anything from the estate. Statements like, "I am not giving Rob anything because he has ignored me for ten years," or "Arya will receive nothing from my estate because she married an idiot," may be true, but have no place in a will or trust. They will only serve to stir up trouble, and make the fiduciary's job harder.

On the other hand, statements such as, "I intentionally leave nothing in this Will to my son, John, because I have provided for him with life insurance," may help clarify the overall arrangement of an estate plan, to make things easier for the executor, and the probate judge.

So, you have the right to remain silent. Any thoughts? Respond in the comments.

08/27/2026

Keep It Simple, Witness

Probate hearings are designed to be quick and specific. Do you want to invalidate a will? Choose your legally authorized grounds to challenge (e.g. incompetency, forgery, undue influence, etc.), and present the evidence that supports your claim. The other side may present their evidence, and ask you questions. The judge may even ask questions.

Unless the circumstances warrant (a very rare situation, indeed), the judge does NOT want, or need, to hear all about what your brother was like as a child, how your sister never returns your calls, or how your step-mother is jealous of how well you cook.

Every probate attorney has had that client - the one who feels the judge "just needs to understand the entire situation." They don't. If the judge is confused about something, they are perfectly within their authority to ask questions. If they choose not to, it is because they do not need to. More to the point: if a judge interrupts, or cuts off testimony (e.g. "Ok, I think I understand what was going on in 2003"), fight the impulse of "I just have to explain one more thing."

Help the hearing move smoothly, and swiftly. The judge will appreciate it - and having a happy judge is always a good thing.

08/24/2026

The Surprise Party

Life is full of surprises. Accidents, changes in employment, unplanned family additions (or deletions), and more come from every direction, seemingly at the most random and damaging of times. Estate planning endeavors to eliminate, or at least minimize, the impact of life's surprises.

One of the primary purposes of trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and the like is to anticipate, and protect against, life's little surprises, to ensure that the damage is minimal.

Talk to your estate planning attorney (you DO have one, don't you?) soon, and find out how to protect against what the future may hold.

Don't let the probate court be turned into a surprise party.

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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