Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

Personal Planning

We assist individual clients in the efficient transfer of assets to their chosen beneficiaries, taking into consideration the client’s personal goals and values, as well as the impact of relevant estate, gift, income, and generation-skipping taxes. We are often able to achieve substantial tax savings for our clients through the use of trusts, limited partnerships, charitable vehicles and other sophisticated planning techniques.

It is important to note that many of our clients face significant short and longterm planning challenges unrelated to any tax considerations.  By way of example, we are frequently called upon to compose creative solutions relating to business succession, pre-marital & post-divorce concerns, blended family matters, loved ones suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, beneficiaries with special needs, spendthrifts and a myriad of other circumstances.

Some of the most common documents included in an individual Estate Plan, include the following:  Last Will & Testament (often incorporating various Testamentary Trust provisions), Durable Financial Power of Attorney, Durable Medical Power of Attorney, Advance Medical Directive, Living Will, and Memorial Instruction Memorandum.  Many individual Estate Plans also include one or more of the following, as well: Revocable Living Trust, Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust, Irrevocable Gifting Trust, Charitable Trust, Special or Supplemental Needs Trust, Grantor Retained Interest Trust, or one or more other specialized personal planning vehicles.

Business Planning

Family and small businesses are often faced with unique problems. This is particularly true in the wealth transfer and estate planning arena. Planning for the successful and efficient transition of ownership and control of a family or small business without sacrificing the cash flow needs of the senior generation often requires careful integration of multiple planning techniques, in addition to personal planning vehicles, including, but not limited to:  Shareholder Agreements, Operating Agreements, Stock Redemption Plans, complex trusts and a variety of other arrangements.  Significant tax savings are often possible with proper planning.