Portrait of Bridget M. Kelly

Bridget M. Kelly

Attorney

When families face disputes involving trusts, estates, and fiduciary matters, Bridget M. Kelly provides thoughtful counsel grounded in both legal knowledge and an understanding of the personal challenges that often accompany Surrogate's Court litigation. She represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in complex estate and trust disputes, helping clients navigate sensitive matters while pursuing practical and effective resolutions.

Bridget focuses her practice on New York Surrogate's Court litigation and assists clients through all stages of contested estate and trust matters. Her experience includes document drafting, trials, hearings, depositions, discovery management and review, motion practice, examinations, settlement conferences, and mediation proceedings. She works closely with clients to develop strategies that protect their interests while remaining mindful of the family dynamics that frequently arise in inheritance disputes.

In addition to her litigation practice, Bridget has experience advising clients on estate planning and estate administration matters. Her background includes Medicaid planning and applications, probate and estate administration proceedings, guardianship matters, high-net-worth estate planning, and real estate transactions. This broad perspective allows her to understand how planning, administration, and litigation intersect, giving her valuable insight when disputes arise.

Bridget has also developed a particular interest in the evolving legal issues surrounding digital assets, privacy rights, and New York Estates, Powers and Trusts Law Article 13-A. She regularly considers how modern technology and changing asset ownership structures affect estate planning, administration, and fiduciary responsibilities.

Estate and trust disputes often arise during emotionally difficult periods in a client's life. Bridget approaches these matters with compassion and sensitivity, understanding that clients are frequently balancing grief with complex legal and family concerns. She strives to provide thoughtful guidance and practical solutions throughout the litigation process.

    Education

    • Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University (J.D.)
      • Legal Scholars Award
    • University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business (B.B.A.)
      • Finance

    State Bar Admissions

    • New York

    Recognitions

    • New York Metro Super Lawyers® Rising Stars (2025) 

Firm Highlights

  • Podcasts
    Artful Donations: Exploring Museum Exchange
    In this episode of The Legal Canvas, host Caryn Keppler welcomes Robert Wainstein and Michael Darling, co-founders of Museum Exchange, the first digital platform dedicated to facilitating art donations to museums and nonprofit institutions across North America. Together, they explore how technology is transforming the way collectors, artists, estates, and cultural organizations connect through charitable giving. Robert and Michael explain the inspiration behind Museum Exchange, the challenges they set out to solve, and how the platform has grown into a network of more than 400 museums. They walk listeners through the donation process—from evaluating artwork and matching donors with institutions to handling logistics, documentation, and tax considerations. Along the way, they discuss the realities of museum collecting, why many donations are declined, and how thoughtful placements can help preserve artists' legacies while expanding access to important works of art. The conversation also explores Museum Exchange's work with living artists, artist estates, hospitals, universities, and smaller regional museums, as well as the launch of the Charis Foundation for the Arts, a nonprofit designed to steward significant collections before placing them with institutions that can best benefit from them. Robert and Michael conclude by sharing their vision for the future of charitable art transactions and how Museum Exchange is helping reshape philanthropy in the arts for generations to come.