Jason W. Stern, Esq.

is a graduate (B.A.) of The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a graduate (J.D.) of Hofstra University School of Law. After graduation from law school, Mr. Stern was employed by the Yankowitz Law Firm before founding his own firm in 2002.

Jason Stern has built a practice spanning three decades on the foundation of the drafting and probating of wills for New Yorkers.  On the other hand no other NY will contest lawyer has successfully overturned more fraudulently attorney drafted and witnessed wills than Mr. Stern.  Mr. Stern has fiercely litigated and recovered countless estate assets on behalf of NY estate litigants.

Our NY estate litigation attorneys also have more experience litigating complex paternity cases on behalf of non-marital children than any other firm.  That particular knowledge of this highly specialized area of law enabled the recovery of tens of millions of dollars in NY estate assets by our firm on behalf of children whose parents were never married.  In fact, Jason Stern and Matt Hunter are currently engaged in the litigation of one of the largest paternity estate battles in United States history, in excess of two hundred million dollars.

Mr. Stern possesses decades of invaluable experience litigating some of the most complex estate cases known as kinship cases, also called cousins cases.  Kinship cases occur when loved ones pass without a will or close surviving relatives.  Mr. Stern’s impeccable track record proving kinship for claimants in these puzzling estate cases is among the best in the field.  This unique experience enables our clients to obtain their rightful recovery of said funds rather than allow such estate proceeds to be deposited into New York’s Department of Finance.  Jason Stern and Matt Hunter have six decades of experience between them, piecing together intricate family trees while mastering this incredibly challenging area of law.

Additionally, Jason Stern and Matt Hunter are pioneers in the realm of NY inheritance rights of adoptees.  This firm has assisted many such individuals in the successful recovery of estate assets that these adoptees may not otherwise have thought to claim.

Mr. Stern has written and lectured widely on the topics of estate planning, as well as medical malpractice and has served as Chair of the Queens County Bar Association Judiciary Committee; Mr. Stern has earned a rating of EX (the highest rating for legal ability and professional ethics) by the Peer Review Committee. Mr. Stern is also one of the few estate attorneys in New York with the experience and successful track record handling difficult and complex kinship cases.

Mr. Stern was also honored with the Super Lawyers 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 New York Metro Rising Stars Award five consecutive years for being one of less than a handful of attorneys who have successfully contested and knocked out attorney drafted wills.

Mr. Stern is the head of the Trusts and Estates Department of the firm, is a member of the Queens County Bar Association, and of the New York State Bar Association. He is admitted to practice law in the States of both New York and New Jersey. Mr. Stern has tracked down and recovered tens of millions of dollars in estate assets for beneficiaries defrauded by unethical executors who misappropriated the funds they were entrusted with. Additionally Mr. Stern has recovered countless unclaimed sums of money for the relatives of loved ones who died without a will in kinship proceedings. Many of these kinship cases were emotionally charged holocaust cases representing the survivors of those who lost their entire families.

Bar Admissions:

New York

New Jersey

Education:

Hofstra University School of Law, Hempstead, New York J.D. – 2001

University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, Ma. B.A. – 1998

Honors and Awards: 

Chair of the Civil Court Judiciary Committee

Nominated to Super Lawyers 2013 Metro Rising Stars list

Nominatied to Super Lawyers 2014 Metro Rising Stars list

Nominated to Super Lawyers 2015 Metro Rising Stars list

Nominated to Super Lawyers 2016 Metro Rising Stars list

Nominated to Super Lawyers 2017 Metro Rising Stars list

Professional Associations and Memberships:

New York State Bar Association

Queens County Bar Association

Queens County Chamber of Commerce

Matthew D. Hunter, Esq.,

is a graduate (B.A.) of the City University of New York with majors in Political Science and Economics (1976), and a graduate (J.D.) of Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu California (1979). Matt Hunter was admitted to practice law in the States of California in 1980 and New York in 1983. In 1996 Matt Hunter was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Matt Hunter is one of a select few estate attorneys in New York who have been successfully handling complex kinship cases for more than 30 years. Matt Hunter has represented countless families of decedents who died without wills in the recovery of tens of millions of dollars. Many of these kinship cases also invloved family of people who perished in the holocaust. Matt Hunter is also a highly experienced real estate attorney and has represented numerous Forest Hills Co-ops in often complex real estate transactions.

Matt Hunter is an experienced attorney engaged in the private practice of law for more than 30 years. Mr. Hunter has been active in local politics as a candidate for the New York State Assembly in 1998 and in other community organizations including the West Side Tennis Club, Men’s Club of Forest Hills, Friends of Station Square, Queens County Bar Association, and Queens County Women’s Bar Association.

Bar Admissions:

California 1980

New York 1983

U.S. Supreme Court 1996

Education:

Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu, California J.D.

City University of New York, Queens, N.Y. B.A.

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Queens County Bar Association

Queens County Women’s Bar Association