Greek Orthodox Estate Planning: Honoring Faith and Family Traditions in Brooklyn

Estate planning isn’t just a legal process—it’s a way to honor your family, your faith, and your community. For Greek Orthodox families in Brooklyn and nearby neighborhoods, it’s important that your estate plan reflects both your religious beliefs and your cultural traditions. This guide explains how you can integrate Greek Orthodox values into your estate plan, ensuring your wishes are respected and your legacy endures.

🕊️ 1. Understanding Greek Orthodox Perspectives on Legacy

📿 Stewardship, Not Just Ownership

• Greek Orthodox tradition teaches that our possessions are gifts from God, entrusted to us for responsible management (“oikonomia”).
• Estate planning is seen as an act of stewardship—balancing family needs with spiritual and community responsibilities.

🏠 The Importance of Family and Community

• Family is central to Greek Orthodox life. Estate plans often prioritize care for elders, support for children, and respect for traditional family roles.
• Many families wish to support their parish or Greek Orthodox charities as part of their legacy.

✝️ 2. Religious Considerations in Wills & Trusts

⛪ Leaving a Legacy to the Church

• Many Greek Orthodox clients choose to leave a portion of their estate to their parish, a monastery, or Orthodox charities.
• This can be done through a specific bequest in your will or by establishing a charitable trust.

🕯️ Memorial Services (“Mnimosino”)

• It’s customary to set aside funds for annual memorial services, not just funeral expenses.
• You can specify in your estate plan that resources be allocated for these religious observances.

👨‍👩‍👧 Honoring Family Hierarchy

• Traditional inheritance patterns may emphasize care for elderly parents or favor certain family members (e.g., eldest children).
• New York law allows for flexible distributions; your plan can reflect your preferences while remaining legally valid.

👪 3. Cultural Practices Around Inheritance & Family Obligations

🏡 Traditional Patterns

• In some Greek families, the family home is passed to sons, while daughters may receive other assets or funds.
• While equal distribution is common in the U.S., your estate plan can be tailored to honor your family’s cultural expectations.

🍞 Ongoing Family Obligations

• It’s common to include provisions for ongoing religious customs, such as “kolyva” (memorial wheat) or support for family gatherings.
• Consider setting up a trust or designating funds for these purposes.

💒 4. Charitable Giving and the Church

🤲 Almsgiving as a Spiritual Duty

• Orthodox Christianity emphasizes giving to those in need and supporting the church community.
• You can create ongoing charitable gifts through your estate, such as:
  • Bequests to your local parish
  • Establishing a scholarship or charitable fund
  • Direct gifts to Greek Orthodox schools, monasteries, or community organizations

📈 Structuring Gifts for Maximum Impact

• Work with your attorney to ensure gifts are tax-efficient and aligned with your overall family goals.
• Consider naming trusted family members or church representatives as trustees or executors if you wish.

⚖️ 5. Practical Guidance for Legal Compliance

🧭 Balancing Tradition and Law

• New York estate law is flexible. Your religious and cultural wishes can be honored as long as your documents comply with state requirements.
• Be specific in your will or trust about:
  • Beneficiaries and their shares
  • Any funds set aside for religious or cultural purposes
  • Charitable gifts and their intended uses

🗣️ Language and Communication

• Alatsas Law Firm offers bilingual services in Greek and English.
• All documents can be prepared in plain English, with interpreters available to ensure you fully understand your plan.

📋 Checklist for Your First Meeting

Bring the following to your initial consultation:

• List of family members and their relationships
• List of assets (real estate, bank accounts, investments, business interests)
• Existing wills, trusts, or health care proxies
• Names of any charities or churches you wish to include

❓ 6. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I leave money specifically for memorial services?

🕯️ Yes. You can direct funds in your will or trust for annual “mnimosino” and other religious observances.

Q: Must I divide my estate equally among my children?

⚖️ No. You have the freedom to distribute your estate as you wish, including honoring traditional inheritance patterns.

Q: Can my estate support my parish or a monastery in Greece?

🌍 Absolutely. Your estate plan can include gifts to any parish, monastery, or Orthodox charity, whether local or abroad.

Q: What if my family speaks Greek better than English?

🗣️ We offer bilingual support and can provide interpreters for all meetings and documents.

🌐 7. Resources for Greek-Speaking Families

• 🕍 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America: www.goarch.org
• 🏛️ Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church, Brooklyn: https://threehierarchsbrooklynny.org/
• 🏛️ Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, Brooklyn: https://www.holycrossbrooklyn.com/
• 🏛️ St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Brooklyn: https://stconstantinecathedral.org/
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 HANAC: https://hanac.org/

📞 Contact Alatsas Law Firm

Ready to create an estate plan that honors your Greek Orthodox faith and family traditions?
Contact us for a free consultation:

Alatsas Law Firm
2115 Avenue U, Brooklyn, NY 11229
📞 Phone: 718-233-2903
📨 Contact Form / Schedule a Consultation