Expert Services for Trusts & Estates Properties
Christie’s International Real Estate Group offers specialized and unparalleled support to estate attorneys, trustees, and heirs through its Trusts & Estates Division. This service was founded by Howard Morrel & Leslie Hirsch, and is overseen by the Morrel Hirsch & Advisors team in New York City.
Our work is closely coordinated with the Christie’s Auction House and our international network of agents in 50+ countries. Christie’s handled over $500 billion in property and goods in the last five years alone.
Challenges & Opportunities
If you are an estate attorney, executor, trustee, or beneficiary, you know how complex and difficult the sale or transfer of luxury property can be when it is estate or trust-owned.
A property may be filled with items of uncertain, but potentially high value. It may require cleaning and repairs. If it’s a condominium or co-op apartment, there will likely be a board to deal with. Multiple family members and beneficiaries are often involved in decisions and distributions of property–and everyone’s concerns and rights must be taken into account. A high-net-worth individual may hold properties in multiple geographies.
Timing is crucial for such sales: Properties may be locked in probate for extended periods as costs mount and markets shift. Estate funds for clean-out and repairs may be tied up. The process is often uncertain; and of course, it’s an emotional time for all involved.
Taking the Burden of Details Off Families & Attorneys
The Trusts & Estates Division of Christie’s International Real Estate Group offers a truly unique set of skills and services tailored to the needs of trustees, families, trusts & estates attorneys, elder law attorneys, and guardians.
Our team, assembled over decades, includes agents, stagers, moving coordinators, contractors, art and collectibles experts–whatever is required. Each partner is a leader in the field and plays an integral role in your project, ensuring a seamless client experience—so you can focus on what’s most important to you.
We maintain our own in-house appraisers, Morrel Hirsch & Advisors Team are New York State court approved and registered real estate professional licensees for guardianships, and we work closely with a family’s financial and tax advisors. Co-founder Howard Morrel is an attorney with deep experience in the issues.
We can handle all the details of trusts and estates property sales, from clean-out to moving, inventory of goods, distribution of the goods, property preparation and much more– substantially reducing the burden on families, attorneys, and financial representatives. We also advance funds, interest-free, for property preparation.
Coordinating with Christie’s Auction House
Christie’s International Real Estate Group was born out of the world-renowned Christie’s Auction House, which has captivated a global audience of luxury collectors and aficionados since 1766. Transcending traditional marketing venues, Christie’s International Real Estate Group showcases listings at auction sales, as well as exclusive events around the world, creating a unique synergy between real estate, art, and luxury goods.
Our team ensures seamless handling of all estate and trust property with the unmatched expertise and global connections only Christie’s International Real Estate can offer.
Compassion and Awareness of Family Dynamics
Always, we work with compassion and awareness of the complex family dynamics and sensitivities that can arise in difficult times–and as trusted advisors to families and their representatives, we often play a crucial intermediary role. We also realize the importance of patience in this work: given extended legal issues and family negotiations, a rapid sale may not be possible. Regardless of the process or the time frame, our team is here to stand by your side.
Our overall goal? Relieve families and their attorneys of the burden of the details. Maximize value to all concerned.
Read about our full menu of trusts & estates services and call us at (212) 956-4823 or fill out an inquiry form to learn more.
Howard, Leslie, & Team
Attract Excellence → Deliver Perfection
As Seen On:
Law Firms We Have Worked With
- Abrams Firm PLLC
- Amicorp Services Ltd
- Andersen Tax
- Baker McKenzie
- Bousquet Holstein PLLC
- Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
- Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld LLP
- Costa
- Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP
- Day Pitney LLP
- Dembitzer & Dembitzer LLP
- Duane Morris LLP
- Feldman
- Pechersky & Krishtul PLLC
- Gamboa + Law PC
- Goldman Sachs
- Grant, Herrmann
- Schwartz & Klinger LLP
- Gray Tolub LLP
- Greenfield Stein & Senior LLP
- Heidner Law Firm PC
- Kleinberg, Kaplan
- Wolff & Cohen P.C.
- Kostelanetz & Fink LLP
- Law Firm of DJR
- Law Office of Miree Kim PLLC
- Law Offices of Barry Janay
- Law Offices of Gabriella Volshteyn
- Law Offices of Vlad Portnoy P.C.
- Loeb
- Block & Partners LLP
- Lucy Lu & Associates
- McDermott Will & Emery LLP
- McLaughlin & Stern
- Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein P.C.
- Miller Zucker & Sharfstein LLP
- MoloLamken LLP
- Morgan Legal Group P.C.
- Nelson Madden Black LLP
- Newman Ferrara Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP
- Phillips Nizer LLP
- Pillsbury Pryor Cashman LLP
- Roberts & Holland LLP
- Schlesinger Lazetera & Auchincloss LLP
- Seward & Kissel LLP
- South Dakota Planning Company
- Steptoe & Johnson LLP
- SunTrust Investment Services
- Sverdlov Law PLLC
- TD Private Trust
- The Pechersky Law Firm
- TW Lewis & Co.
- U.S. Trust Corporation
- Westerman Ball Ederer
- Withers Bergman LLP
- and others.