Estates & Trusts

Employment/Labor
August 16, 2016
Health Care
August 16, 2016

The Estate and Trust Law Group provides comprehensive advice in the design and development of sound estate and business succession plans. In developing plans that are creative and flexible in nature, the Group provides clients with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions to develop plans that are tailored to each client’s specific circumstances. To that end, the Group’s attorneys keep abreast of the latest developments in the estate and trust fields on both the federal and state levels.

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.

Estate Administration: In addition to providing sophisticated counsel in the area of estate planning, the Estate and Trust Law Group is also available to assist in the administration of an estate or trust upon death. The Group’s attorneys provide comprehensive income and estate tax guidance in the administration of estates, and are available to assist in the tax appropriate transfer of assets upon death. The Estate and Trust Law Group is available to assist in all levels of the court appointed process known as probate, and to assist in the transfer of all types of assets outside the confines of the probate process. The Group has significant experience in dealing with the Internal Revenue Service and state Departments of Taxation and Revenue, and are available to assist in various trust litigation matters and state and federal tax audits. The Estate and Trust Law Group can also assist in the administration and taxation of plans involving significant balances in pension plans, profit sharing plans, IRAs and other forms of defined contribution and defined benefit arrangements.

Business Succession Planning: We assist our clients in the creation of a comprehensive plans to provide a timely and smooth transition upon retirement, sale, disability or death. Our legal advice is tailored for each individual, with special attention to tax consequences, as well as family goals and relationships. Our attorneys implement strategies that may include the use of buy-sell agreements, shareholder agreements, and formation of family limited partnerships or limited liability companies.

Our Estates & Trusts Law Group