Clients utilize our expertise to develop estate planning documents to preserve assets for the surviving spouse in a tax efficient manner and distribute property to children and remainder beneficiaries in an organized program. Many trust concepts are available with specific goals designed to protect beneficiaries and preserve property. Estate plan trusts include marital and family trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, gift trusts, education trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and dynasty trusts. Our attorneys engage clients to ascertain family goals and objectives, alert clients to planning opportunities, and provide counsel on estate and gift tax consequences.

Owners of closely-held businesses need an effective succession plan. The process starts by identifying goals, which typically include promoting family harmony, assuring a comfortable income to the surviving spouse, providing for the smooth transition of the business to the next generation, key employees or third parties, and minimizing estate and gift taxes. Owners of closely held businesses can choose from among several planning methods including lifetime gifting techniques and buy-sell agreements.

When it is appropriate, we encourage owners of closely held businesses to consider making lifetime gifts to family members to remove the gifted assets – and the appreciation on these assets – from the owner’s taxable estate. Tax rules allow individuals to make sizeable gifts utilizing annual exclusion benefits, along with the lifetime gift tax exemption in conjunction with the federal estate tax exemption available to each person upon death.

Our clients are presented with many business planning tools including family limited partnerships and limited liability companies; tax-free recapitalization of closely held corporations and buy-sell arrangements.

Experience with the administration of estates and trusts is a strong facet of our law firm. We counsel trustees and personal representatives on the complex interplay of estate and trust law, preparation of federal estate tax returns as well as estate and trust income tax returns.

Not unlike other areas of the law, we are involved in the resolution of various disputes relating to estates and trusts. Moreover, tax controversies oftentimes challenge clients where a dispute ensues with the taxing authorities over estate valuation of assets, deductibility of charges or interpretation of tax laws. We are experienced in litigating these issues in all courts and tribunals.

Our talented attorneys have ongoing relationships with clients which routinely carry over to the next generation of family members. Likewise, we seek to expand and develop new client opportunities. Emphasis is placed on personal attention, professionalism, and sophisticated, dynamic approaches to client needs.

This law firm and its attorneys work closely with other professionals including certified public accountants, bankers, investment specialists and insurance counselors to bring well-rounded decision-making to the client’s circumstances.

Our law firm’s excellent reputation and expertise in the trust, estate planning, and business succession planning areas of practice has been cultivated over 40 years. We are always available to consult on new assignments.

 
Members of our Trust, Estate Planning & Succession Planning Practice Group include:

• Thomas R. Quilter
• George M. Malis
• Sean A. Fraser
• John R. Nicholson
• Robert G. Lewandowski
• Elizabeth Lauer, Paralegal
• Karen Hart, Paralegal