Victoria M. Craft

As a member of the firm’s Trusts and Estates Practice Team, Victoria works with clients to develop individually tailored estate plans by way of wills, trusts, living wills, health care proxies, and powers of attorney. Her experience extends to more complex estate planning, asset preservation planning, and long-term care planning. Victoria is well versed in all aspects of estate administration, probate, and related Surrogate Court proceedings, including contested estate matters and fiduciary accountings.

 

Victoria assists clients with respect to both Surrogate Court Procedure Act Article 17 and 17-A guardianships, as well as Mental Hygiene Law Article 81 adult guardianships in Supreme Court, and conducts hearings related thereto. She is qualified to serve as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem in Surrogate’s Court proceedings, and regularly drafts pleadings and conducts hearings in trial courts regarding enforcement of New York State Mental Hygiene Law, such as involuntary hospital admissions, retention, and treatment over objection. 

 

In addition, Victoria is experienced in drafting and reviewing residential and commercial real estate contracts and facilitating closings on behalf of buyers and sellers. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants in all aspects of business and commercial litigation, including pleadings, motions, discovery, and judgment enforcement, as well as addressing landlord and tenant disputes in town and city courts throughout the Capital Region. 

 

Prior to joining Lippes Mathias, Victoria served in the Claims Bureau at the New York State Office of the Attorney General, Ulster County District Attorney's Office, and the Office of General Counsel at Chubb Insurance.