Fabrice K. Michel
Fabrice K. Michel is the managing attorney of Michel Law, a boutique litigation firm in Great Neck, New York, focused on the legal issues that affect high-net-worth families: divorce, estate planning, contested estate and trust matters, Article 81 guardianship, and real property litigation.
The work spans the full arc of family wealth — protecting it during marriage, dividing it in divorce, planning its transition between generations, defending it when contested, and recovering it when it has been lost or taken. Most clients arrive at one of these intersections with substantial assets at stake and complicated family dynamics already in motion. The practice exists to handle those situations with the technical depth and strategic discipline they require.
Mr. Michel's matrimonial work concentrates on cases involving closely held businesses, inherited and trust assets, hidden or undisclosed property, and substantial estates where the standard divorce framework does not adequately resolve the issues. His estate work includes planning for high-net-worth families — revocable and irrevocable trusts, dynasty trust structures, planning around New York's estate tax cliff, and the coordination of plans that span jurisdictions and generations — as well as litigation in Surrogate's Court when wills, fiduciaries, or trust administration are contested.
Michel Law was built to deliver the quality of work associated with the largest New York matrimonial and trusts and estates departments while preserving the responsiveness and personal attention that boutique representation makes possible. The firm's clients include business owners, executives, professionals, and families managing multi-generational wealth across the New York City metropolitan area.
Mr. Michel is admitted in New York and in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. He writes regularly on the planning and litigation issues that affect affluent New York families.
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Fabrice K. Michel
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
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.