Fabrice K. Michel
Fabrice K. Michel is the founder of Michel Law, where he represents clients in matrimonial, estate planning and administration, and litigation matters. The practice is litigation-first: contested divorce, deed fraud and quiet title actions under RPAPL Article 15, fraudulent conveyances, and contested probate and accounting proceedings before the New York Surrogate’s Courts.
Attorney Michel built the firm after serving in AM Law 200 firms, where he developed the discipline and judgment that define the firm’s approach to every matter. The firm handles the matters where the facts are complicated, the opposing counsel is capable, and the stakes are measured in business interests, inherited assets, or a family home. Every engagement receives his direct, first-chair attention — from initial consultation through final resolution.
Attorney Michel is admitted in New York State and before the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. He holds Part 36 appointments as Court Evaluator under Mental Hygiene Law § 81.09, and practices across Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Kings, Bronx, and Westchester counties. He writes regularly on the litigation and planning issues that affect affluent New York families.
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Fabrice K. Michel
Fabrice K. Michel
The single most consequential procedural step in a contested probate matter occurs before a formal objection is filed. Done well, it determines whether a will contest proceeds, settles, or ends.
Fabrice K. Michel
When a durable POA is sufficient, when it is not, and the four scenarios where Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law becomes the only answer.
Fabrice K. Michel
When an owner or heir discovers a wrongful deed, the window to recover the property is measured in days, not weeks. What happens in the first filings determines whether recovery is possible.
Fabrice K. Michel
Transfers made in the months before filing a Summons with Notice become evidence at trial under DRL § 236(B). Nassau judges enforce it.
Fabrice K. Michel
Forged deeds are void ab initio in NY. Quiet title under RPAPL Article 15, with same-day lis pendens, is how the record is cleared.
Fabrice K. Michel
How to avoid probate in New York — and when you actually want to. A New York attorney explains the tools that bypass Surrogate's Court and the planning that ties them together.
Fabrice K. Michel
How forensic accounting uncovers hidden assets in New York high-net-worth divorce. Common concealment patterns, investigative techniques, and legal remedies.
Fabrice K. Michel
Equitable distribution in a New York divorce does not mean a 50/50 split. A guide to how marital property is actually divided and what factors drive the outcome.
Fabrice K. Michel
Are trusts protected in a New York divorce? It depends on who created the trust, when, and how it was funded. A guide for high-net-worth spouses.
Fabrice K. Michel
How is a business valued in a New York divorce? An overview of valuation methods, the active/passive distinction, and what business owners need to know.
Fabrice K. Michel
How spousal maintenance is calculated in high-income New York divorces, how the income cap works, and what factors drive deviations from the statutory formula.
Fabrice K. Michel
The most common — and most expensive — estate planning mistakes high-net-worth New Yorkers make, and how to avoid them. A practical guide from a Long Island attorney.
Fabrice K. Michel
Revocable or irrevocable trust? The choice affects your taxes, your creditors, and your control. A New York attorney explains when each one actually makes sense.
Fabrice K. Michel
New York's estate tax cliff can cost a family millions for being slightly over the exemption. A New York attorney explains the rule and the strategies that avoid it.
Fabrice K. Michel
Choosing a trustee is harder than choosing a beneficiary. A New York attorney explains the tradeoffs between family, professional, and corporate trustees — and how to avoid costly mistakes.
Fabrice K. Michel
Dynasty trusts can protect family wealth across generations from estate tax, creditors, and divorce. A New York attorney explains how they work and when they make sense.
Fabrice K. Michel
What happens when someone dies in New York? A New York attorney explains the probate process step by step — timelines, costs, and the issues that complicate high-net-worth estates.
Fabrice K. Michel
How long does probate take in New York? An attorney walks through realistic timelines for simple, complex, and contested estates — and what causes the delays.
Fabrice K. Michel
Generational wealth requires more than trusts and estate planning. A New York attorney explains how prenuptial agreements protect family wealth across marriages and generations.
Fabrice K. Michel
Are prenuptial agreements enforceable in New York? A New York attorney explains what courts require, the most common challenges, and how to draft a prenup that actually holds up.
Fabrice K. Michel
Postnuptial agreements in New York let married couples define property rights mid-marriage. A New York attorney explains when they make sense and what courts require for enforceability.
Fabrice K. Michel
Contesting a Will in New York is harder than most people think. A New York attorney explains the recognized grounds, the procedural realities, and when a contest actually makes sense.