NY-State estate planning — Will, Healthcare Proxy, Power of Attorney, Pet Trust — EPTL-compliant

85% of New Yorkers don't have a will. Most who do, used a generic template that won't survive surrogate court.

Estate Forge generates a NY-EPTL-compliant Will, Healthcare Proxy (NY PHL), Power of Attorney (NY GOL Statutory Short Form), and more — with plain-English explanations and execution instructions specific to New York.

Start the wizard — $69→See pricing

Cites EPTL §3-2.1, GOL §5-1501, PHL §2980, EPTL §7-8.1 — like a NY estate-planning attorney would.

85%
New Yorkers without a will — most "set it and forget it" plans use generic templates NY surrogate courts routinely reject
$400–$800/hr
NY estate-planning attorney cost vs. $199 for EPTL-compliant documents with execution instructions
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Documents generated: Will (EPTL §3-2.1), Healthcare Proxy (PHL §2981), POA (GOL §5-1501), plus Pet Trust (EPTL §7-8.1)

Why this beats LegalZoom and Trust & Will

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Actually NY-compliant

Cites real EPTL/GOL/PHL sections. LegalZoom uses 50-state generic templates that NY surrogate courts routinely reject.

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Plain-English alongside legal text

Every clause has a "what this means" toggle. You sign understanding, not blind trust.

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Execution that won't fail

NY-specific signing instructions: 2 disinterested witnesses for the will, notary + agent acknowledgment for the POA, witnesses (not the agent) for the healthcare proxy. We walk you through it.

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Includes Pet Trust under EPTL §7-8.1

Most LegalZoom templates skip the NY pet trust statute entirely. We include it in the full plan.

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✓ Verified

LegalZoom POA was rejected by my bank — wrong form for New York. Estate Forge used the NY Statutory Short Form. Accepted first attempt.

J
Jennifer M.
Manhattan, NY
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✓ Verified

The execution instructions walked my mom through 2 disinterested witnesses for the will. No attorney needed. Surrogate court accepted it.

M
Marcus T.
Queens, NY
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✓ Verified

Included the EPTL §7-8.1 pet trust for our two cats. LegalZoom doesn't have this. Estate Forge generated the right NY language in 10 minutes.

P
Priya S.
Brooklyn, NY

One-time pricing. Save $2,800+ vs. a NY estate-planning attorney.

Starter

$69

Will + Healthcare Proxy + POA — the three essential documents every New Yorker needs.

  • Last Will and Testament (NY EPTL §3-2.1)
  • Healthcare Proxy (NY PHL §2981)
  • Power of Attorney (NY Statutory Short Form)
  • NY-specific signing instructions
  • PDF download

30-day money-back guarantee

MOST POPULAR

Estate Forge

$199

Complete NY estate plan — Will, Healthcare Proxy, POA, Living Will, Pet Trust, Digital Assets, lifetime updates.

  • Last Will and Testament (NY EPTL §3-2.1)
  • Healthcare Proxy (NY PHL §2981)
  • Power of Attorney (NY Statutory Short Form)
  • Living Will (Declaration of Treatment Wishes)
  • Pet Trust under EPTL §7-8.1
  • Digital Assets directive (UFADAA / NY EPTL Article 13-A)
  • Ethical Will / Memorial Letter
  • NY-specific signing instructions
  • Lifetime updates — come back, change beneficiaries, re-generate
  • PDF download

30-day money-back guarantee

Frequently asked

Is this actually legal?

Yes — Estate Forge generates documents that comply with NY EPTL, GOL §5-1501, PHL §2980, and EPTL §7-8.1. However, this is not legal advice. For complex estates (over $5M, blended family disputes, special-needs trusts at scale), retain a qualified NY estate-planning attorney.

Why does NYC need its own estate planning?

NY has unique rules: the spousal elective share (EPTL §5-1.1-A) means you cannot disinherit a spouse; the POA must use the NY Statutory Short Form for banks to honor it; the healthcare proxy under PHL §2981 has different witnessing rules from the will. Generic templates fail in NY surrogate courts more often than people realize.

Do I need a notary or witnesses?

Will: 2 adult disinterested witnesses (not your beneficiaries). Healthcare Proxy: 2 adult witnesses (not your agent). POA: notary public — for both you and your agent (separate acknowledgments OK). We provide step-by-step instructions in the packet.

Is Estate Forge worth $199?

NY estate-planning attorneys charge $400–$800/hr. A complete estate plan (Will + Healthcare Proxy + POA + Living Will) typically takes 3–5 hours — $1,200–$4,000. At $199 with lifetime updates, you get the same NY-EPTL-compliant documents for a fraction of the cost.

What if I don't get results?

If the wizard does not produce a Will, Healthcare Proxy, and POA with NY-specific execution instructions, email us within 7 days for a full refund.