Our Practice
Our areas of practice include:
Estate Planning
Estate planning is the process by which an individual or family arranges the transfer of assets in anticipation of death. An estate plan aims to preserve the maximum amount of wealth possible for the intended beneficiaries and flexibility for the individual prior to death.
Trust and Wills
A revocable living trust is simply a different way to hold title to your assets. Assets are titled in the name of the trust rather than in your name. It is called a living trust because the transfer of assets to the trust occurs during your lifetime. It is revocable because it can be eliminated or changed at any time by the trustee. A trustee (most often you) is appointed to manage the property.
Wills are perhaps the most widely known component of an estate plan. In essence, a will is a letter to the probate judge. It identifies who is in charge of the estate of a deceased person and how the deceased person wants his or her assets distributed.
Probate
We can efficiently handle all probate and inheritance proceedings, and also assist with distribution of property under a living trust once all trust owners have passed away. We can also help you with all problems with property that will pass to an owner or beneficiary without a trust or will, such as pension plans, life insurance, and property owned in joint tenancy. Fees for probate are paid from the estate, and we charge reasonable rates for all other services.
Asset Protection
Asset protection planning involves figuring out and applying a lawful series of techniques that protect your assets from claims of future creditors. The techniques are designed to deter potential creditors from going after you, and frustrate them if they do, generally by making it difficult or impossible for future creditors to grab hold of your assets or collect judgments against you.
In cases where significant sums are involved, asset protection planning often includes setting up a series of trusts, partnerships and/or off-shore entities to hold legal title to your assets. A future creditor who recognizes how difficult it would be to collect on any judgment it may win, might decide it makes little sense to pursue a claim, or be willing to settle for pennies on the dollar.
There is a very sharp dividing line between "legal" asset protection planning on the one hand, and actions to defraud creditors, which are criminal, on the other. For that reason it is essential to have an attorney guide you through the process.
Charitable Trusts
One of many trust documents whereby a donor, either during their life or by testament, establishes a gift with its ultimate beneficiary being charity. Family members or other charitable and non-charitable beneficiaries may receive income for a period of years or lives prior to the ultimate distribution.
Appreciated Assets
United States' tax laws are structured so that donors are encouraged to give as generously as possible to their favorite charitable organizations. Gifts of assets that have increased in value since their purchase can bring the following benefits to the donor:
- Sales of stock, bonds and mutual funds that have appreciated in value generate a taxable capital gain. Gifts of those appreciated assets to not-for-profit organizations are deductible at their full fair market value if they have been held longer than 12 months.
- The fair market value of the asset(s) can be deducted up to 30 percent of the donor's adjusted gross income.
- Excess deductions can be carried forward into as many as five additional tax years.
Business Law
Commercial law or business law is the body of law which governs business and commerce and is often considered to be a branch of civil law and deals both with issues of private law and public law. Commercial law regulates corporate contracts, hiring practices, and the manufacture and sales of consumer goods.
Business Entity Types
An organization that possesses a separate existence for tax purposes. Some types of business entities include corporations and foreign corporations, business trusts, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships.
Employment Contracts
A very important aspect of a venture. Investors in particular want some commitment that key employees are tied to the business or project by contract. Although it is often difficult for the employer to enforce the terms of employment contracts, to make an investment without key employees being committed to contracts would be ill-advised.
Divorce Consulting
I have represented hundreds of clients from all different walks of life, with the goal of maximizing financial recovery and minimizing the emotional toll of the divorce process. As a divorce consultant, I assist my clients in formulating a winning strategy for their divorce, making sure their attorney is taking all the right steps to protect their interests.
Litigation Support
Our litigation support practice is to provide litigation preparedness services to lawyers, law firms and legal departments. This includes interviewing witnesses, document review, and case analysis/preparation.
Business Evaluations
A process applied by qualified valuation experts to determine the fair market value of an owner’s interest in a business. Business valuation is often used to resolve disputes related to estate and gift taxation, divorce litigation, allocation of business purchase price, and many other business and legal disputes.