The combination of a Certified Public Accountant credential and a law license under one roof is genuinely uncommon, and Peter Mertz has practiced that combination from his Upper East Side New York office since 1979. For clients whose legal matters carry financial and tax dimensions, which describes most bankruptcy cases, estate plans, and real estate transactions, the ability to have both questions addressed by the same professional changes how the work gets done.
Overview
Peter Mertz, CPA and Attorney is a New York City-based solo practice offering legal and accounting services from an office at 226 East 85th Street in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. The practice was established in 1979, giving it over four decades of continuous operation serving New York clients with overlapping legal and financial needs.
Peter Mertz holds dual credentials as a Certified Public Accountant and a licensed attorney. This combination is the defining feature of the practice. Legal matters rarely exist in isolation from financial and tax consequences, and a practitioner who holds both credentials can address those dimensions in an integrated way rather than referring clients between separate professionals.
The firm’s primary practice areas are bankruptcy, real estate, and estate planning including wills and trusts. The firm also handles tax preparation for individuals and businesses, with over 30 years of experience in personal and corporate returns.
The firm offers a free initial consultation. The phone number is (212) 737-8588. The address is 226 E 85th St, New York, NY 10028. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The website is www.petermertzcpa.com
Practice Areas
Bankruptcy and Debt Relief
The firm has over 15 years of experience in bankruptcy representation for individuals and businesses. Bankruptcy involves legal process under federal statute, but the financial implications, including tax consequences of discharged debt, impact on financial records, and strategic timing relative to a client’s income and asset position, require both legal and accounting analysis. Peter Mertz handles this analysis under one engagement rather than requiring clients to coordinate between separate legal and accounting advisors.
Real Estate
The firm handles residential real estate closings, commercial real estate closings, property leases, and contract law matters. Real estate transactions in New York City involve specific procedures, attorney review requirements, and title practices. The firm offers competitive rates for closing representation, a pricing point that reflects the volume of real estate work that can flow through a Manhattan practice.
Estate Planning
Estate planning at the firm covers wills, revocable trusts, and the associated estate planning documents that allow assets to pass according to a client’s wishes while minimizing estate tax exposure. The dual CPA-attorney credential is particularly relevant in estate planning, where the tax implications of different planning structures, including gift tax, estate tax, and income tax on inherited assets, require analysis that sits at the intersection of law and accounting.
Wills and Trusts
The firm prepares last wills and testaments and establishes trusts as components of estate plans. This includes revocable living trusts designed to avoid probate and provide management continuity during incapacity.
Probate and Estate Administration
The firm assists executors and families with the probate process in New York, including filing required documents, managing estate assets, and overseeing the distribution of the estate to beneficiaries.
Tax Preparation
Peter Mertz has over 30 years of experience preparing federal and state income tax returns for individuals and businesses, including corporations. Tax preparation services are integrated with the legal services the firm offers, which allows tax planning considerations to inform legal decisions and vice versa.
Attorney and CPA Profile
Peter Mertz is the founder and sole practitioner at the firm. He holds credentials as both a Certified Public Accountant and a licensed attorney in New York. The practice was established in 1979. He handles matters personally and is available for consultation by appointment, with evening hours available for clients who cannot attend daytime appointments.
Clients who have worked with Mertz note his intensity and passion for his work alongside his genuine care for client outcomes and thorough knowledge of both the legal and financial dimensions of the matters he handles.
Location and Service Area
Address: 226 E 85th St, New York, NY 10028
Phone: (212) 737-8588
Hours: Monday through Friday, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Website: www.petermertzcpa.com
The office is on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, in a residential neighborhood with access to public transit. The firm serves clients throughout New York City and can work with clients across New York State.
Client Focus
Peter Mertz serves individuals and businesses with legal and accounting needs that overlap, which describes most clients dealing with bankruptcy, real estate transactions, and estate planning. New York City clients who want a single professional to handle both the legal and tax dimensions of their situation, rather than maintaining separate relationships with an attorney and a CPA, are the primary client population.
The firm’s long tenure since 1979 and the availability of free initial consultations make it accessible to clients evaluating their options across the range of services offered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the advantage of working with someone who is both a CPA and an attorney?
Many legal matters, particularly bankruptcy, estate planning, and real estate transactions, involve significant tax consequences. Having a single professional who holds both credentials means legal and tax analysis can be integrated rather than requiring coordination between two separate advisors. It also means clients receive consistent advice rather than potentially contradictory input from separate legal and accounting professionals.
Does the firm offer a free initial consultation?
Yes. Peter Mertz offers a free initial consultation for prospective clients.
Does the firm handle commercial real estate in addition to residential?
Yes. The firm handles both residential and commercial real estate closings, along with commercial property leases and contract matters.
How long has the firm been in practice?
Peter Mertz established the practice in 1979. The firm has operated continuously from its Manhattan location for over four decades.
What are the office hours?
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The extended evening hours to 7:00 PM allow clients who work standard business hours to schedule appointments after work.
Closing
New York City clients dealing with bankruptcy, real estate transactions, or estate planning frequently encounter legal questions that carry significant financial and tax implications. Peter Mertz, CPA and Attorney addresses those questions from a single professional who has held both credentials since establishing his Upper East Side practice in 1979. Contact the firm at (212) 737-8588 or visit www.petermertzcpa.com for further information.