ESTATE PLANNING FOR FAMILIES

Today, estate planning is more important than ever.  The planning process requires consideration of a wide range of legal, financial, emotional and logistical issues, and our estate planning lawyers understand that estate planning is unique for each family. 

For families with modest estates, planning for the future is especially important.  For example, with the unlimited marital deduction, the federal estate tax may be completely avoided, but without careful planning the use of the unlimited marital deduction may cause a substantial tax in the estate.

Our estate planning professionals learn each client's family and financial circumstances to properly specify the ultimate recipients of their property, to designate the persons necessary to court out their dispositive wishes and to nominate the persons to act as guardians of their minor children.  We utilize a combination of trusts, insurance and wealth transfer techniques in order to preserve the client's wealth.

We understand that a family’s financial circumstances can change, that each person’s goals may change, and that the laws also change.  For that reason, our law firm conducts estate planning reviews at least annually.  And, for those clients who are more active or who have expanding businesses, we review their estate plans before the acquisition of a major new asset or before the client starts a new business.

Our law firm strives to provide highly personalized attention to the individual needs of each of our clients, and implement plans for probate avoidance, tax savings and succession strategies suitable for the particular client.