Services
Estate Administration and Probate
Upon a person’s passing, the decedent’s estate must be administered either by following the instructions provided in the decedent’s trust agreement, or as provided in a Will in Probate Court when no trust exists. A Probate Court proceeding is generally required when a person dies without a trust. Regardless of the type of administration that is necessary, our extensive experience enables us to anticipate and handle problems that a layperson would likely not know how to handle. When a family member is serving as the administrator of a loved one’s estate, we will also work to reduce the potential for family strife.
Estate Planning
Estate Planning is the legal specialty which deals with the creation, protection, preservation, management and distribution of the assets in your estate. (Your estate is everything you own, including real estate, securities, cash, insurance policies, motorized and unmotorized vehicles and all household belongings.) The general objectives of estate planning are to enable you to control how your assets are managed and distributed during your lifetime and after your death, to minimize taxes and transfer fees, and to preserve the maximum value and utility of your estate for you and your loved ones.
Update an Existing Trust
When it comes to updating an existing trust we so often hear the phrases: “I have been meaning to do this for so long” or “It is on my list.” But, it is generally recommended that you review your estate planning documents every five years to make sure they still reflect your current wishes. If you know there are changes to be made and you would like to go over your plan with an attorney you can schedule an appointment to do so by telephoning our office.
