Estate Planning
I can help you select a trusted fiduciary; prepare for incapacity; designate beneficiaries; nominate a guardian for minor children; preserve inheritances for immature, spendthrift, or disabled loved ones; characterize property interests; create a business succession plan; provide for favorite charities; and much more.
Estate planning documents typically include:
- Revocable living trusts;
- Wills;
- Durable powers of attorney for property management and personal affairs;
- Advance health care directives;
- Marital property agreements;
- Special needs trusts; and
- Buy-sell agreements.
Estate Tax Planning
If you may be impacted by estate taxes, I offer advanced planning strategies including:
- Disclaimer trusts;
- Bypass trusts;
- Portability elections;
- Lifetime gifts;
- Irrevocable life insurance trusts;
- Charitable trusts;
- Dynasty trusts; and
- Qualified personal residence trusts.
Trust Administration
If you are administering a trust following the disability or death of a loved one, please accept my condolences. I am here to offer as much or as little assistance as you may require. I understand how overwhelming it can be to locate assets, pay bills, and distribute property to the proper beneficiaries or continue trusts in accordance with the decedent’s wishes. When you agree to serve as trustee, you undertake a huge responsibility. Rest assured, I will advise you of the legal requirements and minimize your risk of personal liability.
Standard services include:
- Intepreting the trust and will;
- Lodging the decedent’s will;
- Notifying beneficiaries and heirs;
- Serving the requisite death notices to government agencies;
- Identifying, valuing, and collecting assets;
- Paying debts, expenses, and taxes;
- Communicating with beneficiaries;
- Preparing legal accountings;
- Coordinating with tax advisors, financial advisors, insurance representatives, etc.;
- Arranging trust distributions; and
- Administering continuing trusts.
Probate
Probate is a court process supervising the transfer of assets held in the decedent’s name to the decedent’s beneficiaries or heirs. Although estate planners typically seek to avoid the delays, costs, and publicity of probate, sometimes probate is necessary. In rare cases, it may even be desirable.
Probate rules, regulations, and procedures are lengthy, and they vary from one county to the next. It is best to retain knowledgeable counsel who can steer you through the process as quickly and inexpensively as possible.
Asset Protection
If you own a business or rent real estate, you may be concerned about protecting your personal assets from creditor claims.
I can help you select, form, and maintain the proper business entity:
- Sole proprietorships;
- General partnerships;
- Limited partnerships;
- Limited liability partnerships;
- Limited liability companies;
- S corporations;
- C corporations; and
- Professional corporations.