A CPA Who Works as an Extension of Your Practice
I work with estate attorneys and family law attorneys across New York and Long Island as a referral partner for the accounting and financial analysis work that falls outside your scope. Two distinct attorney audiences, two distinct service tracks — and I'm not going to pitch you the same message for both. Scroll to the section that fits your practice.
For Trust & Estate Attorneys: Fiduciary Accounting and Tax, Done Right the First Time
If you've been pitched by accountants who don't actually know this work, you know how quickly that becomes apparent. Trust and estate accounting is the core of my practice. I'm not adding it to a general bookkeeping or small business tax firm — it's where my focus is, and it's the vocabulary I work in every day.
When you refer a client to me, here's what I handle:
- Fiduciary accountings prepared in accordance with the NY EPTL, formatted for Surrogate's Court when required — schedules, charges and credits, principal and income separated correctly
- Form 1041 trust and estate income tax returns, including the required New York companion filing, prepared together so nothing falls through the gap between federal and state
- Form ET-706 New York estate tax returns, including analysis of the cliff provision and its implications for the taxable estate
- Coordination with your timeline — I understand that estate administration has legal deadlines and court schedules, and I work accordingly
The attorneys in my referral network refer clients to me because the work comes back accurate, on time, and in a form that reflects well on them. That's the standard I hold myself to on every engagement.
For Family Law Attorneys: Filling the Gap Your Clients Need Filled Before Settlement
The Financial Analysis Your Clients Need Before They Sign
You already know the gap: you can't advise on taxes, asset division strategy, or the long-term financial implications of a proposed settlement. Your clients need someone who can. Without that guidance, they're signing agreements they don't fully understand.
That's where I come in. Here's what I provide for your divorce clients:
- Asset division analysis — identifying and valuing marital vs. separate property, analyzing distribution scenarios so your client understands what they're actually agreeing to
- Spousal support and maintenance analysis — projecting the tax and financial impact of proposed maintenance arrangements before terms are locked in
- Divorce tax planning — evaluating the tax consequences of settlement terms so there are no surprises after the ink is dry
Your Client Is in a Difficult Moment. Together We Can Provide Support
Divorce financial analysis isn't just a technical exercise. The people you refer to me are in the middle of one of the harder periods of their lives, and I don't lose sight of that. They get a careful, human conversation alongside the numbers — not a report dropped in their inbox without context. When attorneys refer clients to me, part of what they're relying on is that I'll handle the interaction with the same care they would.
If It Goes to Testimony, I'm Prepared to Be There
I'm available to serve as an expert witness on asset division and spousal support/maintenance matters. The analysis I prepare is built to hold up — and if the case proceeds to a hearing, I can present and defend it in testimony. You don't have to find a separate expert at that stage. The same CPA who did the work is available to put it in the room.
support for every stage of planning Your Next Steps.
What to Expect When You Refer a Client: Friction by Service Type
Not every referral works the same way, and I'd rather be upfront about that than have you find out after the fact. Here's an honest picture of how each service type tends to go:
- Tax return referrals are nearly frictionless. Your client provides documents, I prepare the return, it gets filed. Minimal back-and-forth, predictable timeline.
- Fiduciary accounting referrals involve moderate coordination. The work requires gathering estate records, sometimes working through incomplete documentation, and aligning with your timeline for court or distribution. It's manageable, but there's more back-and-forth than a tax return.
- Divorce financial analysis referrals are the most hands-on. This work is sensitive, personal, and often involves multiple rounds of analysis as settlement terms evolve. It requires real engagement from your client and from me. The results are worth it — but I want you to set expectations accordingly when you make the referral.
Knowing this upfront makes for a smoother referral relationship. I'd rather you refer the right clients with the right expectations than have anyone surprised by the process.
Why Attorneys Refer Clients to me as a Specialist
The attorneys who refer clients to me aren't looking for someone who handles everything. They're looking for someone who handles this well. Trust and estate accounting and divorce financial analysis are where my practice is concentrated — not spread thin across every accounting service a business might need. That depth is what makes the referral work.
When your client works with me, they're not getting handed off to junior staff or routed through a firm that added trusts and estates to its menu. They work directly with me. And when the work comes back, it reflects the level of care your referral implied.
frequently asked questions
Guidance That Feels Clear and Grounded
Do you work with attorneys outside of Long Island and New York City?
Yes. For trust and estate income tax returns, divorce financial analysis, and general tax preparation, I work with clients and their attorneys nationwide via phone and video. Work tied specifically to New York law — NY estate tax returns and Surrogate's Court fiduciary accountings — is naturally New York-specific, but most of what I do can be handled remotely regardless of where the attorney or client is located.What information do you need from the referring attorney to get started?
It varies by service. For a fiduciary accounting or estate tax matter, a brief overview of the estate structure and timeline is helpful. For divorce financial analysis, knowing the general scope — whether we're looking at asset division, support analysis, or both — helps me frame the initial conversation with your client. I don't need a formal referral packet. A quick email or call is enough to get things moving.Do you coordinate directly with the client, or do you route everything through the attorney?
I work directly with the referred client once the introduction is made. I'll keep you informed of anything material that affects the legal matter, but I don't route routine communication through your office. Most attorneys find this preferable — it keeps your docket clear while ensuring the client is getting the attention they need.Are you available to serve as an expert witness if a divorce case goes to hearing?
Yes. I'm available to testify on asset division and spousal support/maintenance matters. The analysis I prepare is built with that possibility in mind — structured, documented, and defensible under cross-examination. If you anticipate litigation, let me know early so I can structure the work accordingly from the start.How do you handle the sensitivity of divorce referrals with clients who are in a difficult personal situation?
Carefully. I understand that your client is dealing with more than a financial problem, and I approach the first conversation accordingly. The goal is to give them clarity — on the numbers and on what the process looks like — without adding to the stress they're already carrying. Attorneys who refer divorce clients to me consistently tell me that the client experience matters as much as the analysis, and I take that seriously.