“I always knew my career would be in some type of service for people and families, to help them sleep better at night and get along with their family members. Being a trust and estates lawyer allows me to do that – not just as an attorney, but as their trusted advisor for whatever comes their way.”
Crystal Levy helps her clients – families, small business owners, executors of complicated estates, high net-wealth individuals, and more – develop and execute plans for the future. She drafts essential estate planning documents for new parents, including customized wills and trusts, healthcare proxies, living wills, powers of attorney, and guardianship plans. Crystal guides executors and trustees through probate and the estate and trust administration process. She assists a wide range of clients seeking to protect their assets and minimize estate taxes.
She also helps entrepreneurs and small business owners structure and execute business succession plans, start and dissolve companies, negotiate M&A transactions, enter and exit partnership agreements, and more.
Crystal has particular strengths in designing and implementing estate plans for modern families – unmarried couples, blended families, single and divorced parents with children, LGBTQ+ couples with and without children, and other non-traditional family dynamics.
“There’s nothing better than that feeling when my client calls because they want me to know, ‘we are finally ready to sell the family business; what are your thoughts on that?’ Or ‘oh my gosh, we’re going to have a baby!’ It’s very gratifying when clients want to share their lives with me.”
Clients also rely on Crystal to bring discipline and open communication to what can be stressful family discussions around difficult topics. And they’re confident in her recommendations and guidance. One of Crystal’s key strengths is how detail-oriented and incredibly responsive she is by answering emails and phone calls to keep her clients fully informed and educated along the way.
Crystal grew up in California and later moved to New York to pursue her career in law. While working as a paralegal during the day, Crystal also attended law school at night. She and her husband live on Long Island and have two young children.