Our attorneys take an imaginative but prudent approach to help clients with the necessary perspective, building blocks, and personalized strategy designed to increase and preserve wealth-for their own benefit and for the benefit of future generations. We handle estate planning for all sizes and characters of estates, including such matters as:

• Transfer of business assets from one generation to another
• Techniques for avoiding probate for out-of-state and other special assets
• Alternatives for transferring jointly held property
• Transfers of life insurance
• Planning for retirement benefits
• Use of gifts and trusts to minimize taxation
• Use of corporate reorganizations and partnerships to obtain more favorable valuation for tax purposes
• Private annuity arrangements
• Charitable remainder trusts
• Charitable lead trusts
• Grantor retained interest trusts
• Solutions for problems arising from special heirs such as minors, spendthrifts or the disabled
• Valuations of business and investment property
• Elder and disability planning

Estate Planning & Probate

Our attorneys take a personalized approach to estate planning and probate by establishing a solid understanding of our clients’ personalized needs whether short-term, long-term or both. Our attorneys support clients in will preparation, transfers of business assets from one generation to another, transfers of life insurance, planning for retirement benefits, settlement negotiation of trusts and estates on the behalf fiduciaries and beneficiaries, prenuptial agreements, techniques for avoiding probate for out-of-state and other special assets, alternatives for transferring jointly-held property, valuations of business and investment property, as well as a multitude of other estate planning matters.

Some estate planning needs are more complex than others, and our attorneys have the knowledge and understanding to develop and nurture a more sophisticated estate plan. The Estate and Legacy Planning group has vast experience in handling advanced techniques such as grantor retained annuity trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, charitable remainder trusts, dynasty trusts, self-canceling installment notes, private annuity arrangements, and family limited liability companies for individuals with high net worths.

Tax Services

We have a sophisticated federal and state taxation practice which includes corporate formation, planning and reorganizations, liquidations; partnership and real estate matters; creation of trusts (testamentary, living, and life insurance); installment sales; tax shelter programs; nonprofit and deferred compensation. Our attorneys provide clients with the legal resources and tools needed to help minimize and eliminate gift and estate taxation as well as to assist in the preparation and filing of state and federal tax returns. We offer counsel in the event of an audit by the IRS as well as audit/private letter rulings. Additionally, we have experience in the use of corporate reorganizations and partnerships to obtain more favorable valuation for tax purposes.

Planning for Family Members with Special Needs

Planning for the future, requires strong resources now. Whether one anticipates the payment a child’s education, a wedding, elderly care, incapacitated individual care, or other obligations, the attorneys at Williams Kastner have the foresight needed to provide individuals and families with the options and best possible planning guidelines available. Our lawyers are well-versed in handling minor’s trusts, educational trusts, trusts for aged parents, guardianships, revocable living trusts, durable powers of attorney for financial matters and health care, elder law matters and incapacitated individual law matters.

Family Foundations and Charitable Planned Giving

We offer and maintain superior and in-depth knowledge of charitable and planned giving vehicles. Williams Kastner’s Estate & Legacy Planning lawyers regularly advise clients in matters such as charitable lead trusts, fundraising, strategic planning endeavors and private foundations.

Probate and Trust Litigation

On occasion, will validation can become emotional and lead to disputes. When congruence between parties becomes non-existent, our lawyers have the skills and experience that help mitigate the need for litigation as a means of settling disparity. In the event litigation arises, our lawyers effectively handle disputes including elder financial abuse claims, will contests, trust disputes, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, appointment of fiduciaries, will interpretation, business succession issues, instructions in probate, and disputes between beneficiaries, executors and trustees.