It takes years to master all the taxes that effect an Estate Plan. A good Estate Plan takes into consideration Estate Tax, Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Income Tax, and Real Estate Tax. We have many tools available, such as Irrevocable Trusts, Dynasty Trusts, AB Trusts, SLATs, and more! Let’s talk and see what plan fits your needs.  

[expand title="Estate Planning Documents for Life's Big Events"]Specific, big events in your life may require special planning. Our years of experience help us recognize Estate Planning needs for your life events such as Marriage, Divorce, Special Needs Children and Planning for Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

Our years of experience allow us to recognize and use the best tools for your specific facts and circumstances. We don’t have a form book; we have an encyclopedia of knowledge. Your plan will likely utilize The Big Three Estate Planning Documents, but may also use advanced Estate Planning techniques such as; Irrevocable Trusts, SLATs, Business Succession Planning and more.

If your spouse inherits all of your assets, those assets become available to your spouse’s next spouse or creditors. We have techniques that allow your spouse to enjoy the inheritance while providing shelter from attacks. We may apply advanced techniques such as Disclaimer Trusts, Insurance Trusts, AB Trusts, & Marital Trusts. The correct Estate Planning tool will depend on your particular circumstance. Follow this link to read examples of Estate Planning protecting your surviving spouse.

We have techniques, such as Dynasty Trusts and Education Trusts, that allow your descendants to enjoy their inheritance but also provide shelter from daughters-in-law and sons-in-law, as well as your children’s creditors and legal entanglements. Follow this link to read examples of Estate Planning used to protect your heirs.

We have plans such as Dynasty Trusts, and Education Trusts that can keep assets in the family forever, free of your descendant’s creditors, spouses, and certain taxes.

We have plans that avoid probate if they fit your needs. We have years of experience drafting Revocable Trusts, Insurance Trusts and IRA Trusts as well as many other Probate Avoiding tools. Follow this link to read examples of avoiding probate.

If you have a Special Needs Person in your life, we will review how to address providing for their needs without diminishing benefits. We will examine Special Needs Planning tools such as Special Needs Trusts and Guardianships.

Blended Family Estate Planning requires much thought. Blended families raise specific challenges and problems. We will talk about techniques such as Contracts to Will, Irrevocable Trusts, and Funeral Directives with the goal of avoiding conflict and litigation while providing for your loved one’s needs.

Your Estate Plan will require appointing fiduciaries. Each fiduciary has specific tasks and responsibilities. Some jobs require bulldog perseverance while other tasks have a need for diplomatic skills and a personality to help avoid conflict. We will help you select the right person for the right job. It is vital that you choose the right Executor, Trustee, Agent, Surrogate, and Protector. We will help you sort through the options.

We take the time to understand your situation and your family. If needed, we know steps that can help avoid needless conflict and litigation between your heirs.

Our firm has an Estate Litigation Department. We know Will Contests. This knowledge helps us as Estate Planning Attorneys to draft estate planning documents to avoid conflict. Experience is the only way to learn how to avoid traps. An attorney unfamiliar with Estate Litigation hasn’t the experience to avoid Will Contest as we can.

LGBT Estate Planning has become simpler with the recognition of same-sex marriage, but unique challenges exist. Special drafting can address issues that arise with unmarried couples or children from prior relationships. We have years of experience with Estate Planning for LGBT couples, let’s brainstorm!

No one knows your business as you do, so you should be part of crafting the estate plan addressing your business. Don’t leave this up to the State or an executor unfamiliar with your business. Without Business Succession Planning, your valuable asset might fade away soon after your death. Employees might feel insecure, or a salesforce may fear an unknown new owner causing flight, leaving the business floundering. A well thought out Business Succession Plan is vital.