Estate Planning
Estate planning can sometimes be confusing. It is our policy to review each individual’s family and financial situations before making any recommendations. Sometimes a trust makes sense, sometimes it does not. We will analyze your needs and recommend what make sense for you and your family.
We realize that many families have non-traditional circumstances- whether it be children of different marriages, children with special needs or other facts that may make planning tricky. We implement effective plans to meet each family’s personal circumstances.
We provide specialized estate tax planning including tax reduction strategies in preparing wills and trusts. We realize that many clients wish to preserve their children’s inheritances from the potential for divorce and provide creditor protection. We regularly prepare our clients’ estate planning documents to take these personal concerns into consideration.
Estate Administration
Dealing with a family member’s estate may be emotionally difficult. We will work hand in hand with you to make sure that an estate is properly administered from start to finish. We will help you prepare the documents necessary for court appointment, gather the estate assets and make distributions to the ultimate beneficiaries.
We are also capable of handling all aspects of estate and trust litigation, from simple will contests to complex contested accounting proceedings.
Elder Law
The practice of elder law requires a delicate balance. We will assist you in determining whether planning for Medicaid nursing home eligibility makes sense under constantly changing federal and state laws. We also represent clients during the Medicaid application process so that you are not required to appear before the Department of Social Services.
Guardianships
Caring for a parent or other family member may be difficult when that person did not adequately plan for his or her senior years. We can help you and your family to determine whether a guardian for that person is necessary, and then bring the necessary court proceedings to create a guardianship.
Business Planning
We work with family owned and other small businesses to ensure that owners choose the right entity. As your business matures and develops, we will provide practical legal advice. We will also help you plan for succession of your business through the generations while taking into consideration each owner’s personal family structure and needs.
Charitable Planning
We have substantial experience in organizing and advising public charities and private foundations, and in creating trusts as part of charitable giving programs.
We are pleased to offer our specialized services in our Albany office and throughout the Capital District and Hudson Valley as we regularly travel to our clients to ensure that you are most comfortable with the legal services provided.
