Estate planning

Some people think of estate planning as only dealing with the distribution of their property after death. Estate planning also encompasses planning in the event of disability. Revocable trusts are available to avoid a guardianship, in the event of disability, and to avoid probate at the client’s death. Sometimes all that is necessary are a durable power of attorney to handle incapacity and re-titling assets to avoid probate. For younger clients, wills appointing guardians for minors and a trust for the minor children could be appropriate. Advance directives, such as a power of attorney for health care, are important for clients, regardless of age. A marital property agreement might be appropriate for a married couple when one spouse is in a second, or later, marriage and has children born of that previous marriage. For a client who has a child receiving governmental benefits such as medical assistance or SSI, a special needs trust might be appropriate.

Whatever the age of the client, the estate plan should take into account the proper wording of beneficiary designations and the impact of tax and property laws. A well-drafted estate plan will maximize the amount of the estate passing to heirs and minimize the expenses in terms of taxes, administration and delay.

Elder law

Elder law considers many issues, all to keep a senior living independently, safely and comfortably in familiar surroundings for as long as possible. The legal solutions are tailored to each client’s needs. Issues may include the legal aspects of disability planning, health care decisions, long-term care insurance, making gifts to family members, and qualifying for medical assistance benefits. For those with children who have special needs, planning is essential to provide for their child’s continuing care.

Sometimes, adult children become frustrated by a parent’s reluctance to deal with issues in advance of a crisis. Although advanced planning is preferable, as long as the elder remains legally competent, planning opportunities still exist.

Probate administration

Court-supervised probate administration is necessary when a loved one dies if certain assets are titled in the sole name of the deceased person. Probate administration is the process of inventorying assets, paying creditors and distributing the rest to the heirs, all under the supervision of the probate court. Proper tax planning, by considering federal and state fiduciary income tax laws and federal estate tax laws, impacts the net after-tax inheritance passing to beneficiaries. Probate estates should take all allowable estate income tax deductions to offset the estate’s taxable income. The proper choice of the estate’s fiscal year and the proper timing of the payment of estate expenses will maximize the net after-tax inheritance passing to beneficiaries.

Trust administration: representing individual trustees of revocable trusts

Sometimes a loved one who has set up a fully funded revocable trust during lifetime dies and then, upon death, there is no need for an estate to be administered under the supervision of the probate court. A person appointed to serve as trustee of a revocable trust needs legal assistance in inventorying assets, paying creditors and distributing the rest to the beneficiaries named in the trust document. Proper tax planning, considering federal and state fiduciary income tax laws and federal estate tax laws, maximizes the net after-tax inheritance passing to beneficiaries. Trusts should take all allowable income tax deductions to offset the trust’s taxable income. Tax elections are available to maximize the net after-tax inheritance passing to beneficiaries and to streamline the trust settlement process.

Additional services

• Prenuptial agreements (marital property agreements that are signed before marriage): negotiation and drafting.
• Mediation of family disputes after the death of a family member.
• Residential real estate: for-sale-by-owner real estate transactions.