A significant portion of our estate planning practice is devoted to providing exceptional advanced planning, administration and related Legal representation to our clients.

We creatively design and draft fully integrated estate plans comprising of will and trusts of all types, and as needed, corporate and partnership documents, buy-sell agreements, conveyance documents, and other instruments, specifically tailored to address a client's estate planning needs. For our charitably minded clients, we provide charitable gift planning and create charitable trusts, private foundations and other tax-exempt entities.

Our firm regularly represents personal representatives, trustees, and beneficiaries in court in law suits involving estate and trust administration issues, fiduciary removal and breach of duty allegations, will and trust construction and reformation issues, trust terminations, property characterization, accountings, and will contests.

Related Court Litigation:

Probate Cases;

Letter of Administration and Succession Certificate;

Contesting False wills ;

Adoption and appointment of Guardianship.

CHECKLIST: ITEMS TO BRING TO INITIAL MEETING WITH AN ADVOCATE IN PROBATE MATTERS

1. Copy of last will of the Testator  (if you do not have one); than

2. As much information as is available describing Testator’s assets and liabilities, such as bills, bank statements with details of FDR and locker details, if any, investment reports (details of shares, debentures etc.), income tax returns, business records, real estate documents( giving details of immovable properties), details of movable properties and personal movable assets like, personal jewelry etc.

3. Names and addresses of the following:

a. Testator’s spouse, if any, and surviving children and issue of deceased children, if any

b. if no surviving spouse, children, or grandchildren, Executor’s surviving parents

c. if no surviving parents, the brothers and sisters of decedent and the children of deceased brothers and sisters.

4. Testator’s vital documents (e.g., birth certificate, death certificate, deeds,

5. insurance policies, divorce judgments) if available.

6. Aadhar Cards of all who will receive property from the estate.

Glossary of Estate Planning Terms

Administrator
The administrator of an estate.

Beneficiary
The person to receive the benefit of an estate, insurance policy or trust.

Bequeath
To give property by way of a will.

Bequest
The act of giving property by way of a will.

Codicil
A supplement or addendum to a will.

Devise
The act of giving property by way of a will.

Devisee
The recipient of property by way of a will.

EstatePlanning
Planning and preparation for the management and distribution of assets after one’s death through the use of wills, trusts, insurance policies etc.

Power of Attorney

Gives someone else the legal authority to act as an agent on your behalf; however, a non-durable power of attorney terminates upon incapacity or death.

Probate
A court proceeding to administer a decedent’s estate by paying properly asserted and valid debts as well as to distribute assets and property.

Will
A document that expresses an individual’s intentions and wishes regarding the distribution of assets after death.