The firm’s trusts and estates lawyers handle estate planning, tax and probate matters for individuals and fiduciaries. On staff we have two certified estate planning and probate law specialists and two certified tax specialists. We advise clients in the areas of estate tax, disability, and retirement planning (including IRA distributions and beneficiary designations) and asset protection planning. The
estate planning process begins with a comprehensive review of a client’s personal situation and assets. Recommendations are made to advance a client’s estate planning objectives, which often involve many non-tax legal problems as well as advising families on how to preserve their wealth. Keeping family businesses or property intact for the next generation is a major objective for many clients. We make every effort to assist a client in meeting his or her goals, which can be as diverse as providing for a special needs child, implementing generation skipping transfers, or establishing private foundations for charitable giving purposes.
We work with clients in preparing the appropriate documents to accomplish their estate planning and tax goals. Examples include revocable trusts (also known as living trusts or inter vivos trusts), irrevocable trusts (including life insurance trusts and charitable remainder trusts), wills, durable powers of attorney (including financial and health care powers), living wills, family limited partnerships, and limited liability companies.
The firm is involved in all aspects of estate and trust administration. We advise personal representatives, trustees, and beneficiaries concerning the administration of estates and trusts and, when necessary, represent them in probate litigation.
