Trusts & Estates

Overview

Our trusts and estate planning group works with clients and clients' advisory team members to identify personal goals. We then customize an estate plan to achieve these objectives. Our broad and sophisticated trusts and estate planning practice addresses tax and estate planning opportunities for individuals and businesses of all sizes.

Estate Planning

Many individuals perceive estate planning to be a daunting process. Our attorneys explain estate planning options in detail, making sure clients are well informed and understand the documents used to implement their goals. Our experience enables our clients to reduce or eliminate estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes, to avoid or minimize the probate process, and to provide tools to adapt to unforeseeable circumstances.

In addition to creating estate plans, we strive to develop strong relationships with our clients. At our clients’ request, we periodically review their estate plans and make certain the plan evolves with changing financial and personal circumstances, as well as changes in the law.

Estate Administration

We realize that even a well-drafted plan may lead to estate disputes. We work closely with estate and trust fiduciaries to ensure their obligations are met. In the event an estate dispute cannot be peacefully resolved, our attorneys guide fiduciaries and beneficiaries through litigation to enforce their rights and recover what they are entitled to.

Wealth Management

Our trusts and estate planning practice utilizes legal and tax techniques to achieve the financial objectives of our clients. Our team of attorneys work in concert with our clients’ other advisers to develop a plan that encompasses our clients’ goals, relationships, commitments, and resources.

Business Planning

We have substantial experience in the area of business planning for owners of closely held businesses, including extensive experience in transfer and partnership issues. We assist clients in the integration of business planning techniques and estate planning by providing advice on the tax and non-tax issues related to the transfer of family businesses, including capital structure reorganizations, buy-sell arrangements, gift programs, and valuation issues.

Areas of Focus

Our attorneys understand that creating and maintaining estate planning documents is an important step in the process in order to ensure our clients’ wishes are properly carried out, that their assets are properly handled, and that their business and other interests are properly managed. To assist clients in this process, the attorneys in our estate planning practice regularly draft and administer complex estate plans for families and businesses, including:

Wills and Related Transfer Documents
Living Trusts
Life Insurance Trusts
Private Foundations
Charitable Trusts
Gift Trusts
Dynasty Trusts
Family Limited Partnerships
Intentionally Defective Trusts

In addition to preparing and administering these documents, we routinely consult with clients on strategic business planning among generations and provide counsel on: