Estate planning - the process of accumulating and disposing of an estate to maximize the goals of the estate owner - has become a "must" even for those of modest wealth.

We assist our clients in both protecting the assets they have, and preparing the path for a smooth and timely transfer to the next generation.  As each client's asset structure and life circumstances are unique,  we recognize each estate plan must be custom tailored and do not rely on the typical formulary approaches.

A properly planned estate can transfer substantially all of the assets to subsequent generations, while a poorly or not-planned estate can lose well over half of the assets to taxes, fees, and delays.  It is even possible for an entire estate to completely disappear.

We highly recommend estates be planned as soon as possible.  Some of the strategies are simple and can be accomplished almost immediately.  Others, particularly for estates with high percentages of illiquid assets and/or of substantial size, can take a significant time to properly prepare.

The various goals of estate planning include making sure the greatest amount of the estate passes to the estate owner's intended beneficiaries, often including paying the least amount of taxes and avoiding or minimizing probate court involvement. Additional goals typically include providing for and designating guardians for minor children and planning for incapacity.

Some possible solutions, which are often combined, include:

• Living trusts

• Grantor trusts

• Charitable remainder trusts

• Family limited partnerships

• Family trusts

• Insurance recovery

Call us today for a consultation