Wills & Estate Planning
Wills, trusts, and living wills that protect your family and make sure your wishes are honored.
Segal Law Group, P.C. · New York, NY
Tatyana Segal, Esq.
Attorney-at-Law
Clear, caring legal help for planning your estate, protecting your family, and resolving everyday matters — with the personal attention of a small New York practice.
Practice Areas
How I can help
A small practice with focused experience — here are the areas I work in most often.
Ready to talk?
The first conversation is straightforward and pressure-free. Reach out and we'll find a time that works for you.
Schedule a Consultation
I founded Segal Law Group to give people the kind of legal help I'd want for my own family — practical, honest, and free of the cold formality of a large firm. When you call, you reach me directly, and I'll explain your options in plain language before we ever talk about paperwork.
My own path shaped how I practice. I grew up in Ukraine before building my life and career here in New York, so I understand firsthand how daunting legal and government systems can feel — especially in a second language. I'm glad to help clients in Russian, and I take the time to make sure everyone leaves an appointment genuinely understanding their options.
Caring for my neighbors has always been part of my life. I've volunteered with the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty to help low-income seniors, served meals to New Yorkers facing hardship, and served on Brooklyn's District 20 Community Education Council. I keep my practice small on purpose so I can bring that same personal attention to every client — from our first conversation through to a resolution you feel good about.
Professional Background
Alongside building my own practice, I've gained extensive experience serving both government agencies and nonprofit organizations. My government work includes positions with the New York City Housing Authority and the New York City Department for the Aging. During law school, I interned with the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) and the Labor Bureau of the New York State Office of the Attorney General. I also interned for the Honorable Andrea Masley of the New York Civil Court, and I conducted legal research and assisted in drafting judicial decisions and memoranda at the Westchester County Family Court in New Rochelle, New York.
On the nonprofit side, I've worked with several prominent organizations, including the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), the Urban Justice Center, and RiseBoro Community Partnership, and I've volunteered in support of the Medicare Rights Center and Brooklyn Legal Services — work that reflects my commitment to public service and access to justice.
Education & Experience
- Juris Doctor (J.D.), CUNY School of Law
- Admitted to the New York State Bar in 2016 (currently registered)
- Principal Attorney, Segal Law Group, P.C.
- Secretary, Legal Problems of the Aging Committee, New York City Bar Association
- Chair, Housing Committee, Community Board 13 (Coney Island / Brighton Beach)
- Fluent in Russian and English; proficient in Ukrainian
"Legal trouble shouldn't feel lonely. My job is to take the weight off your shoulders and stay beside you until things are settled."
Ready to talk?
The first conversation is straightforward and pressure-free. Reach out and we'll find a time that works for you.
Schedule a ConsultationPowers of Attorney
Properly drafted powers of attorney so a trusted person can act for you when it matters most.
Elder Law
Compassionate guidance for seniors and their families on planning, care, and protecting independence.
Medicaid & Medicare
Help understanding benefits, eligibility, and applications so you can plan for long-term care with confidence.
Landlord–Tenant Matters
Steady representation for tenants and owners facing leases, disputes, and eviction proceedings.
Consumer Protection
Standing up for everyday people against unfair, deceptive, or aggressive business practices.
Ready to talk?
The first conversation is straightforward and pressure-free. Reach out and we'll find a time that works for you.
Schedule a ConsultationLegal language can feel intimidating. These short, everyday explanations are here to help you feel more informed before any conversation. They are general information, not legal advice.
Estate Planning & Wills
- Last Will and Testament
- A legal document stating how you want your property distributed after death and naming the person (the executor) responsible for carrying out those wishes. It can also name guardians for minor children.
- Probate
- The court-supervised process of proving that a will is valid and overseeing distribution of the estate. In New York this takes place in Surrogate’s Court.
- Executor
- The person named in a will to manage the estate — gathering assets, paying valid debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to the beneficiaries.
- Beneficiary
- A person or organization named to receive money or property from a will, trust, insurance policy, or retirement account.
- Intestate (Dying Without a Will)
- When someone dies without a valid will, state intestacy laws decide who inherits — usually close relatives in a set order — and the court appoints an administrator to handle the estate.
- Trust
- An arrangement in which one person (the trustee) holds and manages assets for the benefit of another. A revocable living trust can be changed during your lifetime and helps assets pass outside of probate; an irrevocable trust generally cannot be changed but may offer tax or long-term-care planning benefits.
- Living Will / Advance Directive
- A written statement of your wishes about medical treatment — such as life support — for situations where you are unable to communicate them yourself.
Powers of Attorney
- Power of Attorney (POA)
- A document that lets you (the principal) authorize someone else to handle financial or legal matters on your behalf. New York uses a specific statutory form.
- Agent (Attorney-in-Fact)
- The person you authorize to act for you under a power of attorney. The agent is legally required to act in your best interest and follow your instructions.
- Durable Power of Attorney
- A power of attorney that remains effective even if you later become incapacitated. In New York, a properly executed power of attorney is durable unless it states otherwise.
- Health Care Proxy
- A New York document that names someone to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to make them yourself. It is separate from a financial power of attorney.
Elder Law
- Elder Law
- A field of law focused on the needs of older adults — including estate planning, long-term-care planning, Medicaid, guardianship, and protection from abuse or financial exploitation.
- Guardianship
- A court process in which a judge appoints someone to make personal and/or financial decisions for a person who can no longer make them safely. It is generally a last resort when no power of attorney or health care proxy is in place.
- Long-Term Care
- Ongoing help with daily activities — at home, in assisted living, or in a nursing home — for people with chronic illness or disability. It is costly and usually not covered by regular health insurance or Medicare.
Medicaid & Medicare
- Medicare
- A federal health-insurance program primarily for people 65 and older, and some younger people with disabilities. It covers many medical costs but offers only limited coverage for long-term care.
- Medicaid
- A joint federal-state program that helps people with limited income and assets pay for health care, including long-term care such as nursing-home and home care. Eligibility depends on income and asset limits.
- Spend-Down
- Reducing your countable income or assets to qualify for Medicaid — through allowable spending or careful planning — rather than simply giving assets away.
- Look-Back Period
- A set period before a Medicaid application during which past asset transfers are reviewed. Gifts made during this time can cause a delay (penalty period) in coverage. For nursing-home Medicaid this has generally been five years; rules for home care have been changing, so current law should be checked.
- Estate Recovery
- After a Medicaid recipient’s death, the state may seek repayment for certain benefits from the person’s estate. Planning ahead can affect what is exposed to recovery.
Landlord–Tenant
- Lease
- A contract between a landlord and tenant that sets the rent, the length of the tenancy, and each party’s rights and responsibilities.
- Security Deposit
- Money a tenant pays up front to cover unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear. New York limits most deposits to one month’s rent and sets rules for returning them.
- Warranty of Habitability
- A New York law (Real Property Law §235-b) requiring landlords to keep rental housing livable, with essential services such as heat and hot water and free of dangerous conditions.
- Nonpayment Proceeding
- An eviction case a landlord brings when a tenant has not paid rent. The tenant usually has an opportunity to pay what is owed and remain in the home.
- Holdover Proceeding
- An eviction case based on something other than unpaid rent — for example, remaining after a lease ends or violating a lease term.
- Eviction / Warrant of Eviction
- The legal process for removing a tenant. A landlord cannot lawfully force a tenant out without a court order; only a marshal or sheriff may carry out a warrant of eviction.
Consumer Protection
- Consumer Protection Law
- Laws that guard people against unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent business practices in everyday transactions such as purchases, loans, and services.
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
- A federal law that limits how third-party debt collectors may contact you and prohibits harassment, false statements, and other unfair tactics.
- Deceptive Business Practices
- Misleading acts or statements by a business that can cause consumers to be cheated or harmed. New York’s General Business Law (§§349–350) prohibits deceptive practices and false advertising.
- Statute of Limitations
- The legal time limit for bringing a lawsuit. Once it expires, a claim usually can no longer be pursued — so it is important to act promptly.
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and every situation is different — please contact the office to discuss your specific circumstances.
Have a question about any of these?
The first conversation is straightforward and pressure-free. Reach out and we'll find a time that works for you.
Schedule a Consultation
Phone(718) 877-0328
OfficeBrooklyn, NY 11224
United States
United States
Office HoursMonday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Evenings & weekends by appointment
Evenings & weekends by appointment