We’re Planning on You!

Estate planning is a lifetime process whereby:

• You control your property while you are alive and well;

• You take care of yourself and your loved ones if you become disabled;

• You give what you want to whom you want, when you want and the way you want; and

• You do so with the lowest possible amount of taxes, professional fees, and court costs.

Whether planning involves a will, trust, or other documents, an estate plan will take care of you and your family the way you want and minimize the likelihood of disputes or other problems. Estate planning is for everyone who is concerned about providing responsibly for their own wellbeing and for the wellbeing of those they love.

Business planning often goes hand-in-hand with estate planning. Choosing the right business structure is a very individual, and sometimes complicated concern that we can help you navigate. As part of helping you put the right business structure in place, we will also assemble any partnership, operating, buy-sell agreements, or other necessary documents to make sure your business operates the way you want.

When the operation and ownership of a business transfers from one group to the next, whether within a family or to an outside group, there are unique estate planning challenges that arise. Business transitions involve many complex issues, and we have experience in helping people identify and then work through those issues. An organized and well-structured business transition is integral to a well-functioning estate plan.

The transition of farms and ranches is a unique subset of business succession planning. The transition almost always occurs within families, and attention must be given to the needs of both the outgoing and incoming owners. Control, ownership, the sharing of expenses and profits, as well as recognizing the family members who are not involved in the farming/ranching operation, are just a few of the issues that must be dealt with. We have experience helping families plan and work through these complicated but manageable issues.

There are times when it makes sense for people to rearrange ownership of their assets as part of their estate planning, whether it is to make maximum use of tax exemptions or simply for protection from loss through future litigation. We can help you understand if this is a strategy that would work for you, and if it is, help you implement it as required.

There are many reasons to engage in charitable giving, as well as many ways to give. Whether it is a private foundation, a donor advised fund, a charitable remainder or lead trust, or any other charitable giving strategy, we can recommend and create the right vehicle to help you accomplish your charitable goals.

Estate planning for someone with special needs requires being aware of the requirements for eligibility for government benefits, while at the same time making sure family members can plan and provide for the needs of the special needs individual. We have experience with this specialized type of planning and can help you accomplish your goals in caring for someone with special needs.

Trust funding and maintenance are key to ensuring that estate planning documents work as intended. Trust funding means the ownership of the assets is transferred into the name of the trust. We know how important this step is and that is why we assist you in funding your trust.

Trust maintenance is making sure that as situations change, the terms of the trust are updated to reflect the new circumstances. These steps are important parts of having an estate plan that operates how you want and expect.

Trust administration and probate refer to how a person’s estate is cared for after they die. “Trust Administration” is what happens if someone has a trust, and “Probate” is what happens if someone has a will or if they have no estate planning. While probate is a court proceeding and trust administration is directed by the terms of the trust, they both can be complicated at times. We can help you sensitively navigate this process.