Representing clients in connection with planning for significant life events including separation, divorce, and death, as well as with the difficult process of tending to the probate administration of the final affairs of deceased family and friends.
Representative Engagements of our Attorneys:
- Individuals and couples in connection with will and trust based estate plans.
- Grantors of irrevocable life insurance trusts and other irrevocable trust arrangements for lifetime giving.
- Individuals in connection with formal and summary probate administrations and dispositions of personal property without administration.
- Foreign executors in connection with ancillary probate administrations.
Estate Planning (Wills and Trusts, Advance Directives)
Preparation of wills, codicils, and trusts, as well as advance directives including durable powers of attorney, designations of health care surrogate, living wills, and DNRs. Assisting unmarried clients in developing a comprehensive individualized plan that addresses in a legally enforceable manner their desires in the areas of health care, asset management, and asset succession. Counseling on and implementation of asset protection and business succession measures.
Family Transactions
Representing clients with intra-family transactions, including family mortgage loans and unsecured loans, as well as documenting life estates, enhanced life estates (“Lady Bird deeds”), and other property transfers.
Probate and Trust Administration
Representing clients with all phases of probate administration, both summary administration and formal administration, including evaluation of the estate, appointment of personal representatives (known as the executor in other jurisdictions), identification of exempt property, homestead determinations, distribution, accounting and discharge. Representing trustees in the administration of trusts both during and after probate proceedings.
Prenuptial Agreements and Postnuptial Agreements
Representing clients with the review, negotiation, and drafting of marital agreements to accomplish estate and legacy related planning goals.
Cohabitation Agreements and Non-Marital Property Acquisitions and Divisions
Representing clients with the review, negotiation, and drafting of cohabitation agreements and agreements regarding property rights among unmarried persons, as well as with the division of such property in the absence of a prior agreement.
