Do Attorneys Make House Calls in New York City?
Yes. Some attorneys make house calls in New York City, particularly for wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies and other estate-planning matters. A home visit may be especially helpful for an elderly, disabled, hospitalized or homebound client—but a medical necessity is not always required.
The Law Office of Gregory M. Lendino offers attorney home visits through its concierge estate-planning service. House calls may be available in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island, as well as Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
For clients who cannot easily travel to a law office, Bensonhurst Law offers concierge estate-planning and attorney home visits in New York City .
Why Would Someone Need an Attorney Who Makes House Calls?
For some New Yorkers, getting to a law office is difficult. For others, meeting at home is simply more private and convenient. An attorney house call may make sense when:
- An elderly client has difficulty walking, driving or using public transportation;
- A person is homebound because of an illness or disability;
- A client is recovering from surgery or receiving care at home;
- A person is staying in a hospital, rehabilitation center, nursing home or assisted-living facility;
- A married couple wants to complete its estate planning together;
- Relevant family members need to participate in an estate-planning discussion;
- The client wants greater privacy and personal attention; or
- An urgent change in health makes prompt planning necessary.
A home visit can remove a practical obstacle that might otherwise cause someone to postpone important legal planning.
What Can a House-Call Attorney Help With?
A New York attorney who visits a client at home may be able to prepare or review:
- Last wills and testaments;
- Revocable and irrevocable trusts;
- New York statutory short form powers of attorney;
- Health care proxies;
- Living wills and advance directives;
- HIPAA authorizations;
- Beneficiary and estate-planning arrangements;
- Elder-law and asset-protection plans; and
- Existing estate plans that need to be updated.
The process normally begins with a consultation. The attorney learns about the client’s family, assets, concerns and goals before recommending particular documents. The documents can then be prepared and, when appropriate, signed during a separate home appointment.
Can a Will Be Signed at Home in New York?
Yes. A New York will can be signed in a private residence. The location does not determine whether the will is valid. What matters is whether the will is executed in accordance with New York law, including the applicable signature, declaration and witness requirements.
Having an attorney supervise the signing can help ensure that the required formalities are observed and that the circumstances surrounding the execution are appropriately documented. That can be particularly valuable when the person making the will is elderly, seriously ill or making decisions that disappointed relatives might later challenge.
Can a Power of Attorney Be Signed During a Home Visit?
Yes. A New York power of attorney may generally be executed during an attorney home visit if the required signing, acknowledgment and witnessing formalities are followed.
A power of attorney permits a chosen agent to handle designated financial and legal matters. It can become critically important if illness or injury later prevents the person from handling those matters personally. Because a person must possess the required capacity when signing, waiting until a full crisis develops can greatly limit the available options.
Do Attorneys Visit Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Rehabilitation Centers?
Some New York City attorneys also make legal visits to hospitals, nursing homes, assisted-living communities and rehabilitation facilities. Availability depends on the attorney, the client’s location, the urgency of the matter and whether the requested work can ethically and legally be completed under the circumstances.
A diagnosis, physical disability or residence in a care facility does not automatically mean that a person lacks the capacity to sign legal documents. The attorney must evaluate whether the client understands the nature and consequences of the proposed document and is acting voluntarily.
If the client no longer has the legally required capacity, it may be too late to execute a will, power of attorney or certain other documents. Depending on the circumstances, the family may need to consider an Article 81 guardianship proceeding or another legal remedy. This is one reason families should address estate planning before an emergency arises.
Can an Adult Child Arrange the Attorney’s House Call?
Yes. An adult child or another relative may contact the law office to ask about arranging a home visit for a parent or family member. However, the attorney ordinarily represents the person receiving the legal advice—not the relative who scheduled the appointment or agreed to pay the fee.
Family members may provide background information and participate in appropriate discussions. The attorney may nevertheless need to speak privately with the client to confirm that the client understands the proposed plan and is making independent decisions free from pressure or undue influence. These precautions protect the client and strengthen the integrity of the resulting estate plan.
Are Lawyer House Calls Only for Elderly or Homebound Clients?
No. Attorney house calls are not limited to emergencies, seniors or people who are physically unable to leave home.
Busy professionals, parents and married couples may prefer an in-home estate-planning consultation because it is comfortable, private and efficient. Relevant financial and family records may already be available in the home, and trusted family members can participate when the client wants them involved.
For these clients, the home appointment is a concierge legal service rather than an emergency accommodation.
How Much Does an Attorney House Call Cost?
The cost depends on the work involved, the documents requested, the client’s location, the amount of travel required and whether expedited service is needed. Some attorneys charge a flat fee for the estate-planning package, while others charge separately for travel or urgent appointments.
Before retaining an attorney, the client should receive a clear explanation of the legal fee, what services are included and whether there is an additional charge for the home visit.
Where Are Attorney House Calls Available?
The Law Office of Gregory M. Lendino is located in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Through our concierge estate-planning practice, home consultations may be available throughout:
- Brooklyn, including Bensonhurst, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Gravesend, Bath Beach, Borough Park, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and Brooklyn Heights;
- New York City, including Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx;
- Nassau County; and
- Suffolk County.
Availability is determined individually based on the location and nature of the requested legal services.
How Do I Find a Lawyer Who Will Come to My Home?
When contacting a law firm, explain where the client is located, whether the client is at home or in a care facility, what documents may be needed and whether there is any immediate medical or timing concern. The attorney can then determine whether a house call is appropriate and what information should be gathered before the appointment.
If the request is being made for a relative, be prepared for the attorney to speak directly and privately with that person before accepting instructions or preparing documents.
Frequently Asked Questions About Attorney House Calls
Do lawyers make house calls in New York City?
Yes. Some NYC lawyers offer home visits, especially for estate planning, elder law, wills, trusts, powers of attorney and health care proxies. Availability varies by firm, location and type of matter.
Can a lawyer come to my elderly parent’s home?
Yes, provided the attorney offers house calls and can communicate appropriately with the parent. The attorney may need to meet privately with the parent to confirm capacity, intent and freedom from undue influence.
Can an attorney come to a hospital to prepare a will?
Possibly. A hospital visit may be available if the attorney can respond in time and determines that the patient has the capacity required for the proposed document. A medical emergency does not eliminate New York’s execution requirements.
Can a notary come with the attorney?
Necessary notarization and witnessing arrangements should be discussed when scheduling the visit. The requirements differ depending on the documents being signed.
Does the client need to be homebound?
No. Some firms offer home visits as a concierge service for clients who value convenience and privacy, even when the client is capable of traveling.
This article is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.