Wills, Trusts & Estates

We have experience in the preparation of wills, living wills, complex trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies, and family partnership agreements and are also well versed in securing guardianship proceedings for both disabled individuals and the elderly.

Estate Administration and Litigation

Our attorneys regularly administer estates, representing individuals as beneficiaries of estates and trusts, executors, trustees, incapacitated persons, surviving spouses, intestate heirs, and guardians, often involving multi-million dollar trusts and estates. We assist in the preparation and filing of court documents for will probate and administrator appointments, the collection and valuation of assets, tax elections and allocations, counsel with regard to the preparation of estate and fiduciary income tax returns, and assist in examining estate and gift tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities.

Our attorneys litigate will contests regarding undue influence and diminished capacity, spousal election, and also successfully defended will contests involving complex estates. Among the issues we have addressed in estate litigation are the interpretation of estate documents, including beneficiary designations, and challenges involving gifts, trust formation, and investment decisions.

Estate Planning

Firm estate planning includes both simple and large complex estates. Estate plans consist of Living Wills and Power of Attorneys; tax planning; health issues; wills, trusts and estates; probate and estate administration; powers of attorney; living wills; guardianships; nursing home/assisted living facility placement and all other issues involving in long-term care planning

Our attorneys also regularly prepare and/or provide counsel regarding a variety of trusts, including Living, Dynasty, Insurance, and Crummy, Charitable Remainder and Lead, and Personal Residence trusts.  We often counsel clients with regard to estate plans involving businesses, and develop buy/sell agreements and engage in other planning that incorporates business goals.

Our attorneys work with clients to plan for their financial futures and physical well-being.  This includes plans for the protection of individual and family assets, the development of comprehensive long-term health care plan, the financing and the selection of an assisted living facility or nursing home living care facility, review of admission agreements, Medicaid/Asset Protection Planning, asset transfers, Medicaid Spend Downs and “Look Backs,” as well as gifting opportunities.