Summary

Planning for retirement, the loss of a job, a sudden disability—and death. All of this is included in estate planning, as a way to secure your assets and take care of yourself and your loved ones. Without proper estate planning, the probate code determines who receives your assets and who administers your estate. Your estate could also unnecessarily pay substantial federal estate taxes.

Our attorneys at Fraser Trebilcock have extensive experience in drafting, establishing, and administering estate plans, and will work with you to create an estate plan that reflects your personal values and your own unique circumstances. Some considerations include:

• Who will be responsible for making financial and health care decisions at your incapacity and death?
• Who will receive your assets upon your death?
• Will your spouse and children be adequately provided for and protected?
• How can you protect your spouse and your children if you have a blended family?
• What can you do to protect a disabled child, grandchild, or another beneficiary, or those with other special needs?
• How can you protect your family financially if you go into a nursing home or require skilled nursing care?
• What can you do to minimize income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes?
• What are the best asset protection tools and techniques?
• What is the best way to title your assets and designate your beneficiaries?
• What type of business arrangement is best if you own a family business?

After death, the estate or trust of the person who died will need to be administered. We will work closely with those you have named as your personal representative (executor) and trustee to efficiently administer your estate and trust. Our attorneys are very knowledgeable in all aspects of probate and trust administration. When needed, our experienced probate court litigators can handle uncontested and contested probate matters and trust administration, both big and small.

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