Our All-Encompassing Trust And Estate Law Services
As an area of legal specialization, trusts and estates law is perhaps the most personal and the most personally important. A carefully developed, expertly administered estate plan can ensure that a client’s most deeply held principles and wishes are realized, their legacy is effected, and their family is legally and financially safeguarded for generations to come.
DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP, provides comprehensive, personalized legal services for clients who wish to plan for the smooth transfer of their property and assets to the next generation. Our attorneys represent individuals, spouses, domestic partners and families in a wide range of estate planning matters.
Designing Appropriate Estate Planning Tools
While capable of meeting any personal estate-planning need, our focus is on the preparation and administration of estates, trusts, and tax plans. We aid families in preserving wealth and minimizing tax exposure. We are particularly experienced in educating clients about options for family wealth and tax planning unique to their circumstances, needs and priorities. We are also expert at managing estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes.
Our services include helping clients with:
- Devising coherent estate plans, which may include a will, living trust or insurance trust
- Structuring tax-efficient gifts and bequests to family members
- Shielding assets from creditors
- Paying necessary taxes
- Assuring the timely, appropriate fulfillment of clients’ charitable goals, which may include creating tax-exempt organizations and providing counsel to private foundations
Our goal is to provide for the effective, efficient administration of estates and trusts in order to streamline and facilitate what can often be a cumbersome process. With the support of our litigation practice group, we are equipped to provide probate court representation in the event of estate-related litigation such as will and trust contests and contested accounting cases.
We Synthesize Multiple Areas Of Legal Knowledge
DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP, uses our resources across several legal subjects to produce effective estate planning solutions. For example, we provide advice on business succession planning, as well as family limited partnerships and limited liability companies created in order to shield and manage family assets.
Our lawyers also have extensive experience in providing personal tax planning for individuals, including in:
- Establishment and representation of private foundations and charitable trusts
- Preparation of prenuptial agreements
- Formation of limited partnership documents
- Purchase of annuity or insurance products
- Creation of contracts relating to the acquisition or preservation of valuable personal or real property
When necessary, DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP, trusts and estates attorneys work closely with our tax practitioners to develop sophisticated strategies for minimizing tax liabilities.
In addition, in connection with our health care law attorneys, our trusts and estates attorneys are also experienced in the preparation of health care proxies, living wills and powers of attorney for clients, including determinations of capacity and the creation of conservatorships and guardianships. We also provide detailed advice on issues relating to the intricacies of government programs for the elderly, such as Medicaid and the preparation for a nursing home or assisted-living facility stay.
Start Creating Or Reviewing Your Estate Plan
Our firm offers cross-disciplinary legal insight. Whether you own significant property or business interests, or you have other complex needs, we are well-equipped to advise you. Call 201-928-1100 or email our staff to schedule an estate planning consultation.
