Estate Planning
Practice Areas
Wills: Legal documents that specify how a person’s assets will be distributed after their death. They may also include instructions for guardianship of minor children and appointment of an executor to carry out the terms.
Trusts: Legal entities that hold assets for beneficiaries. Trusts can be structured in many ways (e.g., revocable, irrevocable, living, testamentary) to manage asset distribution, reduce estate taxes, and protect assets.
Powers of Attorney: Legal documents that authorize an individual (agent) to make financial or medical decisions on behalf of another person (principal) if they become incapacitated.
Healthcare Directives: Also known as living wills or advance directives, these documents outline an individual’s preferences for medical treatment in situations where they cannot make decisions themselves.
Beneficiary Designations: Coordination of beneficiary designations on accounts, insurance policies, and other assets to ensure they align with the estate plan and avoid probate where possible.
Probate and Estate Administration: The legal process of validating a will, settling the deceased’s debts, and distributing assets according to the will or state law if there isn’t a valid will.
Tax Planning: Strategies to minimize estate and gift taxes through efficient asset distribution and charitable giving, often utilizing trusts and other legal instruments.
Business Succession Planning: Structuring the orderly transfer of ownership and control of a family business or closely-held enterprise to the next generation or designated successors.
Charitable Planning: Establishing charitable trusts or other giving mechanisms to support philanthropic goals while also achieving tax benefits for the estate.