Estate Planning

Our Approach

We are structured for solutions, which in this context means we begin with listening. We invest the time to understand family dynamics, business interests, charitable priorities, and tax sensitivities before recommending a course of action. From there, we develop tailored plans that may include wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, life insurance and charitable vehicles, family limited partnerships or limited liability companies, and succession arrangements for closely held businesses, all coordinated to work together rather than as isolated pieces.

Administration receives the same level of attention. When serving as or advising fiduciaries, we guide them through their legal responsibilities, deadlines, and practical decisions, from marshaling assets and settling debts to managing distributions and resolving questions from beneficiaries. We are particularly focused on the tax consequences of fiduciary elections, the coordination of retirement accounts and employee benefit plans with overall estate plans, and the timing and structure of charitable giving.

Estate planning today is inherently collaborative. Our lawyers routinely work alongside accountants, financial planners, investment managers, trust officers, and insurance advisors, ensuring that a client’s legal plan is aligned with their financial, investment, and risk management strategies. Because we are a full-service firm, we can easily involve colleagues in related areas such as corporate, real estate, taxation, and employee benefits when those issues intersect with a client’s planning or administration needs.

We advise clients as their families grow, businesses evolve, and laws change, revisiting plans and administration strategies over time so they remain effective and aligned with client goals.