Inheritance, Estates and Personal Planning
Our experienced estate lawyers offer comprehensive, professional service in the area of estates and estate planning, with advice tailored to the individual circumstances of each person, including:
Probate of Wills and Estate Administration
If you are the executor of a Will, or if someone in your family has died without a Will, we take you step-by-step through the process of estate administration, including obtaining probate, interpreting the Will, and concluding all the affairs of the estate, while protecting you from personal liability.
We offer a free initial consultation to executors and administrators, where we review the circumstances, give preliminary advice on what needs to happen and estimate the probable cost and time required to obtain a grant of Probate of the Will or to obtain Letters of Administration where there is no Will.
We are experienced in resolving all types of disputes relating to Wills, trusts, estates and mental or physical incapacity, including:
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Claims that a Will is invalid due to lack of capacity or undue influence.
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Claims of persons disinherited in a Will.
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Claims relating to joint tenancy of assets.
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Appointment or removal of Committees for personal and financial care of incapable persons.
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Removal of an executor, trustee or an attorney acting under a Powers of Attorney.
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Interpretation or alteration of trusts.
These kinds of disputes often involve conflict among family members, and can create or aggravate tension and bad feeling among people who otherwise care about and support each other. With this in mind, we look for opportunities to resolve disputes by mediation and negotiation rather than through the courts—saving time, money and hard feelings whenever possible.
Estate, Incapacity and Personal Planning
We prepare estate plans, including Wills and other relevant documents, of all types—from the most simple to the most complex. A well-prepared estate plan discourages challenges to your chosen distribution of your estate, considers joint tenancy of assets and other alternatives to probate and minimizes the fees and taxes payable.
We also prepare Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements or directions regarding health and personal care, to ensure that your financial and personal care needs are met in the event of incapacity.
Trusts
We provide advice and guidance in all matters relating to the creation and administration of trusts. Trusts are often used to protect and care for individuals who cannot make decisions for themselves by reason of advanced age, minority, illness or mental or physical infirmity. Trusts can also be used as an advanced estate-planning tool to minimize taxes payable on income from a business or other investments.
If you would like one of our estates and trust lawyers to call you, please contact us or, if you prefer, use our Estates Inquiry Form.