TRUSTS & ESTATES

Our Trusts & Estates lawyers are qualified and ready to assist you to identify your personal and financial goals and to develop a unique estate planning strategy designed to satisfy your specific priorities.

Our goal is to ease asset transition, minimize tax liability, and preserve assets. Family interests are protected through the development of a comprehensive plan that includes the drafting of essential documents and the proper structuring of asset ownership.

For clients with closely held businesses, the lawyers in the Trusts & Estates group work together with the lawyers in the Business Law group to achieve a smooth and expeditious transfer of ownership from one generation to the next.

Related services include all aspects of the probate of wills and the administration of trusts and estates. We assist executors and trustees in gathering and re-titling assets, preparing estate and gift tax returns, preparing accountings, and distributing assets.

When lifetime gifts of assets become part of a comprehensive plan, we prepare the transfer documents as well as the necessary Gift Tax Returns.

For clients facing issues of disability planning, we prepare Powers of Attorney and Advanced Health Care Directives (Living Wills) to plan for potential disabilities or apply to the court for guardianship or additional emergent relief as needed.

The goal of estate planning is to avoid litigation, but our lawyers are experienced and knowledgeable regarding the unique disputes that may confront our clients upon the death or disability of a loved one. Working closely with our Litigation group, we effectively obtain court intervention when necessary to resolve estate disputes through mediation, arbitration, or trial.

Because of our reputation, experience, and knowledge, the courts often appoint our lawyers to serve as lawyers, guardians, or mediators for parties in need of such assistance in court proceedings.

Herten Burstein attorneys practicing in this area include:

Albert Burstein
Philip F. Sheridan, Jr.
Andrew J. Cevasco
Richard J. Contant
Susan M. Marra
Andrew T. Fede
Louis C. Tomasella
Eimi S. Thompson