Trust and Estate Planning

Are you worried about what will happen to your beneficiaries in the event of your death? How will you protect yourself should you become incapacitated?  How well do you manage your investments? Are you having trouble managing your out-of-state assets? Who will care for you special needs child if you die? 

Let our team help you find the solutions that best meet your needs! We offer:

• Living Trusts

• This may be an option for you if:
  • You are interested in the potential tax and family planning advantages of having a trust
  • You have a trust or are the beneficiary of a trust.
  • You are concerned about the management of your personal affairs in the event of disability or incompetency
  • You have been awarded a liability settlement in legal action such as wrongful death or injury suits.
    
    
• Advantages Include:
  • Trust documents are confidential.
  • Designed to avoid probate proceedings
  • Reduce taxes, safeguard financial privacy, and provide professional asset management.
  • May be designed to protect beneficiaries against their own inability to manage inherited assets.
  • Allows the deceased to maintain some control of assets after death.

• Testamentary Trust

• This may be an option for you if:
  • Your marital assets exceed the estate tax deduction
  • You wish to maintain control of assets after death
  • You want to split assets between spouse and children in order to maximize the estate tax exemption amount
    
    
• Advantages Include:
  • Estate Tax Savings
  • Deceased is able to maintain control of assets after death
  • May be a source of income for widow and/or spouse
  • Can be a way to provide for special family needs

• Special Needs Trust, Guardianship and Conservatorships

• This may be an option for you if:
  • You have the responsibility of providing personal management and care for a disabled adult or for a minor who may not have living parents or natural guardians.
    
    
• Advantages Include:
  • Guarantees that the money held in the trust will be used for the care of the trust beneficiary.
  • Trust can own assets without disqualifying beneficiary from receiving government benefits.
  • Addresses the specific needs of the disabled person or minor

• Charitable Trust

• This may be an option for you if:
  • You want to defer capital gains taxes.
  • You want to obtain tax deductions.
  • You want to make long-term provisions for your chosen charities.
    
    
• Advantages Include:
  • Reduce tax liability
  • May preserve assets for family.