Shannon McNulty Named Best Estate Planning Attorney 2026

Three crystal awards with "Best of Best Review 2026" elegantly engraved on them.

Best of Best Review proudly recognizes Shannon P. McNulty, founder of The Village Law Firm, as the Best Estate Planning Attorney in New York of 2026.

This recognition reflects McNulty's comprehensive approach to estate planning, one built around a simple but important principle. An effective estate plan should work in real life, not merely exist as a collection of signed legal documents.

Professional woman in a gray suit with a pink blouse, smiling confidently

Through The Village Law Firm, McNulty works with individuals and families whose lives and assets can be complex. Her approach considers not only wills and trusts, but also beneficiary designations, account ownership, digital assets, investment properties, business interests, guardianship decisions, and the practical information loved ones may need during an emergency.

A Modern Approach to Estate Planning

Estate planning has changed because modern families have changed.

A client may own property in multiple locations, hold accounts outside the United States, have cryptocurrency stored in a cold wallet, receive stock options from a technology company, own a business, or have family members living abroad. These circumstances require planning that looks beyond traditional documents.

McNulty and The Village Law Firm begin with the client's life, family, assets, and goals. Documents and other planning tools are then designed around those realities.

This client centered philosophy was an important factor in Best of Best Review's selection of McNulty as the Best Estate Planning Attorney in New York of 2026.

Making Sure the Plan Actually Works

One of the strongest ideas behind McNulty's approach is captured in a statement provided by The Village Law Firm:

"A will that no one can find is worthless. A trust that was never funded controls nothing."

It is a straightforward observation with significant consequences.

Signing an estate plan is only part of the process. Beneficiary designations may need to be updated. Accounts may need to be retitled. Assets need to be identified and organized. Digital assets require consideration. Guardians and trustees may need practical guidance about what to do when the time comes.

McNulty's approach addresses these implementation details rather than treating document execution as the finish line.

Planning for Life as It Changes

Another distinguishing quality is the firm's emphasis on maintaining an estate plan over time.

A plan may accurately reflect someone's wishes when it is signed, but life rarely remains static. A second child may arrive. A family may purchase a new home. Someone may start a company, acquire additional investments, move, divorce, remarry, or experience another significant financial or personal change.

The Village Law Firm offers an ongoing service that includes annual meetings, plan updates, and document storage. This continuing relationship is designed to help ensure that an estate plan keeps pace with the life it was created to protect.

That focus on continuity contributes significantly to McNulty's selection as the Best Estate Planning Attorney in New York of 2026.

Experience Behind the Advice

McNulty's professional background adds another layer to her estate planning practice. She earned her J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center and an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law.

Before founding The Village Law Firm, she practiced at Curtis, Mallet Prevost, Colt & Mosle and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where her work included domestic and international tax and estate planning matters. She has also served as a judicial clerk for a United States District Court judge in the Southern District of New York.

That combination of estate planning and tax experience is particularly relevant when serving clients with sophisticated assets, businesses, investments, or international considerations.

Why Shannon P. McNulty Earned the 2026 Award

Best of Best Review considered McNulty's demonstrated legal knowledge, depth of estate planning experience, attention to implementation, ability to address sophisticated family and financial circumstances, focus on asset organization, beneficiary coordination, planning for digital assets, support for international families, ongoing plan maintenance, and commitment to creating continuity for clients and their loved ones.

The distinguishing factor is how these elements come together.

McNulty does not approach estate planning as a one time transaction centered solely on producing documents. Her work through The Village Law Firm reflects a broader view of what families actually need before an emergency occurs and what loved ones may need afterward.