Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh provides estate planning services to individuals and families seeking to protect their assets and ensure the orderly, efficient transfer of wealth across generations. Our attorneys and staff bring the experience and attention to detail necessary to help clients achieve their estate planning goals, often working closely with financial advisors, accountants, insurance professionals, and other trusted advisors to create comprehensive plans tailored to each client’s needs.
Estate planning is valuable for clients of all net worth levels. Proper planning can reduce administrative expenses, minimize estate taxes, simplify the transfer of assets, and ease the burden placed on family members during difficult times. Thoughtful planning can also help avoid unnecessary probate costs, court filings, and administrative delays while preserving wealth for future generations.
A well-crafted estate plan not only directs the distribution of assets after death, but also provides for the management of personal, financial, and healthcare decisions during periods of incapacity or disability.
Below are examples of documents we commonly prepare for estate planning clients:
- Advance Medical Directives
- Durable Powers of Attorney
- Last Wills and Testaments
- Revocable Living Trusts
- Guardianship Designations
Depending on a client’s objectives and circumstances, we also prepare more advanced estate planning tools, including:
- Irrevocable Trusts
- Conduit Trusts for Qualified Plan Assets
- Pet Trusts, Supplemental Needs Trusts, and Dynasty Trusts
- Asset Protection Trusts
- Charitable Trusts
- Charitable Foundations
- Family Limited Partnerships (or LLCs)
- Gifting Programs
- 2503(c) Trusts for Minors
Estate Administration
Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh also provides a full range of estate and trust administration services. We represent fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and family members throughout the administration process and work closely with our litigation team when disputes or contested matters arise.
Our Estate Administration Services Include:
- Representation of fiduciaries and beneficiaries from qualification through estate closing
- Probate of wills and trust administration
- Locating, valuing, and distributing assets
- Disclaimer planning
- Filing inventories and accountings with the Commissioner of Accounts
- Preparation of Form 706 – the estate tax return
- Valuation discount opinion review and documentation
- Estate tax audits and commissioner or judicial inquiries.
- Debts and demands hearings
- Trust and estate litigation
- Resolution of disputes among beneficiaries and/or fiduciaries
The estate administration process can be complex, time-consuming, and filled with potential legal and financial pitfalls. Working with an experienced estate administration attorney can help fiduciaries navigate the process efficiently, avoid costly mistakes, and reduce the risk of personal liability.
