Trusts and Estates Practice

This practice includes preparation of Wills, trusts and other documents necessary to put clients' plans in effect, taking into consideration their wishes and tax concerns, as well as the probate of estates. We begin the estate planning process with our clients by asking them to complete a questionnaire that is designed to collect necessary information in a concise, simple form.

This allows the clients to answer the questions at home, where records are available and discussion between spouses can be open, and saves the clients a trip to our office and the cost of an attorney's time to ask the same questions. When the clients return the completed questionnaire, the responses are reviewed and the clients are called to discuss any questions and our recommendations as to the structure of their Wills and other plan documents. We ask clients to obtain beneficiary designation forms for all insurance policies and tax-deferred plans, such as IRA's, so that these can be coordinated with the overall plan. Drafts are prepared and sent to the client for review, again at home on their own time.

If the clients request a conference, usually due to special issues related to second marriages, we are certainly happy to meet with them at any point in the process. However, in most situations, the clients review the drafts, call with any final questions and then make an appointment to review and execute the plan. Most clients are very happy to need only one trip to our office and to save the fees incurred by an initial information-gathering conference. After execution, Wills are downloaded on a disk so that future changes can be made with minimal effort and cost. In addition to this basic process, we work with clients to prepare trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations when appropriate to the clients' needs, and we are available to help the family of a deceased client probate the Will and administer the estate.