We have been working with families on trust and estate planning for years, and we work to make the process simple and seamless.

We help clients plan for the efficient and effective transfer of assets to spouses, to younger generation family members, charities, and other persons clients wish to benefit.

This involves the preparation of trust agreements, wills, powers of attorney, medical directives, and closely held business structures, including partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations.

Wealth Planning

Our attorneys will consult with you to learn your objectives, your family relationships, charitable inclinations, and the relationship of federal and state estate tax, gift tax, and generation-skipping transfer tax laws to these objectives. They will then work with you and, in some cases, with other advisors to create a plan that aligns with your objectives.

Once a plan is in place, we will work to carry it out based on your wishes. In connection with family wealth planning, we’ll plan and draft trust agreements and wills, create various business entities, and carry out business reorganizations.

Estate Administration

We also provide estate administration services. Our attorneys will ensure that all issues are taken care of by conferring with members of a decedent’s family.

Some of the issues we discuss include:

• Assistance to the executor with the preparation of the required probate documents and assist in valuation of estate assets
• Making insurance claims
• Preparation of final income tax returns and the estate’s income and federal and state estate tax returns
• Monitoring of the investment of the estate’s assets
• Arranging for the distribution of the estate’s net assets
• Throughout the administration of an estate, consideration is given to income tax savings through the timing of distributions and the timing and claiming of appropriate deductions.

Trust Administration

Our attorneys advise and consult with corporate and individual trustees concerning the discharge of the trust’s terms and consult with beneficiaries concerning trust administration matters including the preparation of trust accounts.

Trust and Estate attorneys also assist clients in all phases of probate and trust litigation. This may involve construing or reforming the terms of a will or trust, prosecuting or defending a will contest action or surcharge actions against trustees.