Estate Planning: Although estate planning and estate administration advice is provided on all levels, the Group’s attorneys are especially qualified to advise on advanced estate tax savings techniques. Group members also maintain involvement in a number of state and national professional associations to stay informed of new developments, and to strengthen valuable professional relationships within the field. In addition to drafting and advising in the area of basic Wills, Living Trusts and Advance Directives such as Powers of Attorney for Property and Health Care and Living Wills, the Estate and Trust Law Group can provide significant technical expertise in the drafting and administration of Credit Shelter Trusts, Qualified Terminable Interest Property Trusts (QTIPs), Charitable Remainder and Lead Trusts (CRTs and CLTs), Irrevocable Insurance Trusts (ILITs), Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs), Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRTs) and other advanced estate tax avoidance vehicles. The Group’s estate and trust professionals lecture locally and regionally regarding the proper drafting of wills and trusts.
Beneficiary and Fiduciary Representation: Our attorneys routinely counsel our clients with respect to their rights and duties as an estate or trust beneficiary or as a fiduciary, such as an executor or trustee.
Will Contests and Trust Litigation: We have extensive experience in representing clients in court actions challenging a will or trust document based upon claims of lack of capacity or undue influence. We also represent corporate fiduciaries and trust companies with respect to whether they have properly discharged their fiduciary obligations.