In 2024, the New York Legislature enacted Real Property Law (“RPL”) § 424, which codified New York’s public policy in favor of transfer-on-death deeds that provide for real property to pass to beneficiaries named therein upon property owners’ deaths (RPL § 424). More recently, in Matter of Cruz (Birks), 87 Misc3d 1229(A)
2026
New York Trusts and Estates Legislative Developments of Which to be Aware in 2026 and Beyond
By Robert M. Harper on
Posted in Legal Profession
Last year, the New York Legislature (the “Legislature”) enacted, and Governor Kathy Hochul signed, into law several pieces of legislation that are likely to significantly impact trusts and estates practice in 2026 and beyond. The legislation in question concerns (a) electronic wills, and (b) service of process in Surrogate’s Court proceedings. I write to provide…