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Wills
- To be sure your wishes are carried out, not those of the legislature speaking for you.
- To pass assets, both tangible and intangible to the specific objects of your affection --and in a form best suited for them to receive those gifts.
- To select persons of your choice to wrap up your affairs, manage your business during the transfer, and see your property properly distributed.
- To select trustees to hold and administer assets for your loved ones with integrity, good judgment and compassion
- To provide security and comfort for a surviving spouse, parent, friend or same-generation relative --over time --through age illness and disability --to provide investment expertise and to control the disposition of that asset upon the death of the life interest.
- To set the terms and timetable for the passage of wealth to the younger generation
- To appoint and fund guardians for minor children
- To give the powers you want (and withhold those you don't) to the persons doing your work --and to set the terms by which they are to be governed and compensated.
Estate Planning
- The use of wills and trusts to pass assets under conditions (tax, managerial and otherwise) as favorable as possible to you and your loved ones.
- To conserve wealth, to protect those left behind, to preserve business enterprises, to benefit worthy causes, and to be sure that the accretion to wealth will be as positive an influence on the next generation (and the one beyond that) as possible.
- The use of lifetime instruments and those effective at death to accomplish your goals in the most advantageous way (both tax and otherwise) --"to be sure the tail wags the dog, and not the other way around" --to make wise use of valuation leverage
- The use of revocable trusts, family limited partnerships, partnerships and corporations to facilitate the passage and preservation of family businesses and to guide and encourage current employees and the next generation.
- Planning for the maximum benefit from retirement plans and other retirement assets, both for you and for your family.
- After-death planning through the use of disclaimers and funding choices.
- Living Wills & Health Care Powers; Powers of Attorney (for financial matters)
- To name someone to make health care decisions for you when you cannot speak for yourself --through injury, illness or age
- To guide those Agents, your family and your physician as to: your wishes to have extraordinary measures taken to prolong your life (or not); your preferences as to the type of medical care you should receive; your desire to be released should you fall into an irreversible vegetative state or should you be in severe pain.
- To delegate decisions when you are entering into surgery or other acute medical care.
- To appoint someone (short of a guardian) to handle your financial affairs in your stead -- either for a specific matter (limited) or over time (and in the event of your incapacity --general)
- To name someone to look after things while you are away, or someone to step in should -- and only when-- you lose the ability to manage your own finances (springing and durable)
- The use of revocable trusts to avoid the need for a guardianship proceeding.
- To specify and regulate the person of your choice in all the above, rather than leave such decisions to the chaos and insensitivity of a court and your (perhaps over- stressed) family members.
Business Matters
- To form (regular) "C"corporations, (transparent) "S" corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships, Partnerships, Limited Partnerships.
- To select among these entities to best accomplish your purpose.
- To assist (insofar as the legal structure) in the funding and commencement of these entities (short of public offerings, financings or equity sales).
- To assist (insofar as the legal structure) in peopling these entities and compensating staff.
- To assist in the passage of these entities to heirs, employees, private buyers or other successors.
Tax Planning & Planned Giving
- To accomplish your goals in the most tax-advantageous way.
- To do well by doing good
- To benefit the objects of your charitable interest in a structured and lasting way
- To free up inefficiently-used assets to benefit both giver and recipient
- To provide guidance and regulation to your charitable recipients so as to keep their work on track with your charitable intentions while allowing room for changes to meet an evolving climate.
- The formation of various charitable entities and the tax-qualification of entities already in existence. Including charitable private foundations
- Charitable planning, Charitable Lead Trusts, Charitable Remainder Trusts (both CRUTs and CRATs), advising on pooled income funds and donor-advised community funds.
Probate and Estate Administration
- Filing necessary petitions
- Making post-mortem planning decisions
- Advising on returns
- Advising on distributions & working with heirs/beneficiaries
- Establishing vehicles directed by wills and trusts
- Wrapping up estate & filing dismissal papers
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