Probate, Estate and Trust Administration

A significant portion of our practice is devoted to advising fiduciaries charged with the administration of estates and trusts. The probate estates we administer include both decedents’ estates as well as guardianship estates for minors and disabled adults. With respect to decedents’ estates, we guide fiduciaries through the probate process, appearing in court as required, assisting them in the transfer of assets, and resolution of claims, as well as the implementation of the decedent’s estate plan. We ordinarily prepare required state and federal estate and inheritance tax returns and work in partnership with the estate’s accountants to ensure that fiduciary income tax matters are handled in the most advantageous manner. We also design and implement post-mortem planning techniques which are tailored to a client’s circumstances and which are aimed at the minimization and deferral of future estate taxes and the estate’s income tax liabilities.

The trusts we administer vary in size and complexity. This includes both trusts created upon the death of a client and trusts created by our clients during their lifetimes to implement their estate plans or particular family planning objectives. In many cases, we essentially serve as a client’s family office. When circumstances warrant, we also assist clients in the formation of family offices and private trust companies.