A will is not a form to fill out — it is a document to draft. At Morgan Legal Group, attorney Russel Morgan, Esq. approaches every New York estate plan the way a skilled author approaches a manuscript: each provision is chosen with purpose, each clause tested against the law, and nothing is left to chance or boilerplate. That deliberate method is the founding principle behind draftyourwill.net and the reason New Yorkers across the state trust Morgan Legal Group to protect what they have built.
Who We Are
Morgan Legal Group is a New York estate planning and probate law firm. Under the guidance of Russel Morgan, Esq., the firm focuses exclusively on helping individuals and families create wills, advance directives, and comprehensive estate plans that hold up — in Surrogate’s Court and in the lives of the people left behind.
We serve clients statewide. Whether you are in New York City, the Hudson Valley, Long Island, or upstate, our process is designed to meet you where you are and produce a document that reflects your exact intentions.
The Standard We Hold Every Will To
New York’s execution requirements under EPTL §3-2.1 are specific. A valid will must satisfy every one of them:
| Requirement | What the Law Requires |
|---|---|
| Testator’s signature | Must appear at the end of the will |
| Publication | Testator must declare the instrument to be their will to the witnesses |
| Witnesses | At least two attesting witnesses, signing within one 30-day period |
| Witness addresses | Each witness must add their residence address to the document |
| Codicil amendments | Any amendment (codicil) must meet the same EPTL §3-2.1 formalities |
A single defect — an undated witness clause, a signature in the wrong place, a missing publication declaration — can expose the document to a will contest in Surrogate’s Court. The drafting stage is where that risk is eliminated, not after the fact.
Why Drafting Precision Matters in 2026
New York’s estate tax landscape makes careful planning more consequential than ever. The 2026 basic exclusion is $7,350,000, but the state’s “cliff” rule means an estate valued at just 105% of the exclusion — $7,717,500 — loses the entire exemption and is taxed from dollar one at rates reaching 16%. A well-drafted will, coordinated with trusts and beneficiary designations, can be the difference between an orderly transfer of wealth and an avoidable six-figure tax bill.
When there is no valid will, EPTL Article 4 governs distribution — a rigid statutory formula that rarely matches what the deceased would have chosen. Drafting a will is the only way to override that default.
Our Commitment to You
Every engagement at Morgan Legal Group begins with listening. We learn what you own, whom you want to protect, and what outcomes you are trying to prevent. From that conversation we draft — not fill in — a will that is yours in every meaningful sense.
Ready to put deliberate thought behind your estate plan? Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Russel Morgan, Esq. and leave with a clear picture of what your will should say and why.
Further reading from Morgan Legal Group: why estate planning is so important.