Our Services

Estate Planning

The lawyers at our firm assist clients with their estate planning needs by advising clients on wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, business succession issues, gifting strategies, tax issues, and other matters. We also assist clients with creating general powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney, and living wills. When estate planning clients call our office to set a first appointment, they are sent a package of information explaining the estate planning process, including a booklet written by Al Todd. Clients are also sent an estate analysis checklist, which should be completed prior to the first conference for estate planning. Because we bill hourly for most matters, completing the checklist and being organized at the time of the first conference saves us time and thus saves you money. There is no charge for the initial information mailed to clients.

Probate, Estate Administration, and Trust Administration

Our firm assists clients with all aspects of probate law and estate administration, including preparing and filing probate and tax forms and advising personal representatives on their duties and responsibilities. Much of the work of estate settlement can be done by the individual named as the personal representative; however, numerous opportunities for tax savings are easily overlooked without professional advice. Our firm may have broad or limited representation in assisting clients with estate administration and we will gladly work with a client’s accountant or other financial advisors.

Our firm also assists trustees with carrying out their duties and advises trust beneficiaries as to their rights under trust agreements. Like estate planning matters, probate matters, estate settlement, and trust administration questions are also generally handled on an hourly basis.

Tax

Our firm handles a number of tax issues ranging from preparation and advisement regarding the creation of Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, non-profit organizations (including applying for and maintaining 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status) as well as advising clients on estate taxation, gift taxation, generation skipping transfer taxation, and federal and state income taxation issues (individual, corporate, partnership and fiduciary). Attorneys in our firm have prepared and handled the filing of United States Estate Tax Returns. Additionally, our attorneys have represented clients before the IRS, State Departments of Revenue, and federal courts in prosecuting and defending client’s tax returns, collection or payment of taxes, back-tax issues, and requesting Innocent Spouse Relief.