Practice Areas

• Revocable Living Trusts - A Revocable Living Trust is a document that is similar to a Will in function, but it can help avoid probate costs and fees. It is a popular tool for helping families to direct who and what is involved in their estate without the intrusion of the court system or compounded legal fees. 

• Last Wills and Testaments - A document which directs where an individual’s assets and property are transferred at their death. It also specifies who is the Personal Representative (also known as an executor) of the estate to handle the affairs.  

• Special Needs & Disability Trusts - Not all family members have the same needs. A proper estate plan can address the additional needs of a family member who has a disability. This kind of planning can make sure that your family member still receives the government benefits they depend on, while providing additional ways to take care of their special individual needs. 

• Blended Family Planning - The non-traditional family is now the norm. Many marriages include different children from previous relationships. Many people are concerned that their new spouse will disinherit their children. Estate planning is a way to make sure that everyone in your life will be protected and provided for. 

• Young Family Planning - Estate Planning is important at all ages, not only for end of life planning. A Last Will and Testament is where families with young children can name who would be the Guardian of their children if something was to happen to them. There is nothing more important than making sure you have a plan for your most precious loved ones in case the worst should happen. 

• Modifying Existing Estate Plans - Making an estate plan is not a one time event. You have to update your estate plan as your life changes. Reviewing past documents and modifying them to fit the current laws and stage in life is a big part of estate planning. 

Probate - Probate is a legal process which occurs when a loved one passes away and leaves their assets solely in their individual name. Through the probate process, the court supervises the administration of the decedent’s assets through notifying beneficiaries and ascertaining creditors of the estate. There are different kinds of probates, some more lengthy and expensive than others. The kind of probate needed is determined by a variety of factors. 

• Formal Administration

• Summary Administration 

• Ancillary Administration

Trust and Will Administration - It can be difficult to choose someone to be in charge of your Trust or Estate. The person or people in charge have a large responsibility to carry out your wishes the way you have planned them. There are legal requirements to the beneficiaries and tax and accounting requirements as well. In some situations, it can be helpful to have a professional third party to be in charge of administering your Trust or Will. 

• Trust Administration

• Fiduciary Services

• Executor Services

Marital & Cohabitation Agreements - Getting married is a time surrounded by love and joy. What many people do not know is that getting married has significant legal ramifications. This is especially true in modern blended families where children from previous relationships might be involved. It is extremely important to protect your assets and estate by designing what rights exist for all parties involved in a marriage. 

• PreNuptial Agreements

• PostNuptial Agreements

• Cohabitation Agreements

Incapacity Planning - Many people do not like to think about a time when they can not competently make their own decisions. You do not want to wait until a health scare, an accident, or some other crisis situation occurs to figure out who will step up and take care of you. Having your advanced directives in place removes a large amount of stress from your family in an emergency situation. 

• Durable Power of Attorney

• Health Care Proxy/Surrogate

• Living Will

Elder Law

• Long Term Care Planning - The rising costs of long term medical care is a very scary reality that people are facing everyday. It is important to be as prepared as possible for what would happen if this reality became yours. There are steps you can take and legal tools that are available to be as prepared as you can be.