Wills and trusts are common ways in which individuals dispose of their wealth. Trusts, unlike wills, have the benefit of avoiding probate, a process that can be lengthy and costly legal, and which oversees the transfer of assets.

Some clients find it useful to make inter vivos gifts (gifts made while the donor is alive) in order to minimize taxes. The Federal Gift Tax exempts up to $1,000,000 of lifetime gifts. For more detail, please read our article Reducing Estate Tax by Making Gifts.
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Estate planning is the process by which an individual or family arranges the transfer of estate to an individual's heirs in anticipation of death. An estate plan aims to preserve the maximum amount of wealth possible for the intended beneficiaries and flexibility for the individual prior to death. A major concern for drafters of estate plans is federal and state tax law. Without proper planning, unnecessary estate, gift, generation-skipping taxes, and state death taxes may adversely affect your plans.
Our firm provides the most efficient and tax-advantaged solutions relating to estate and gift planning, selection of fiduciaries, transfers of family businesses, life insurance, retirement planning, trusts, charitable giving, health care, education funding and gift techniques. First, we offer a FREE initial consultation. The initial consultation allows you to learn more about our firm, the issues that will likely be confronted, and possible solutions. After identifying your concerns, issues, and exposures, our firm will formulate a plan to minimize your estate taxes by a variety of means and protect your assets.
In addition, we prepare living trusts to avoid probate administration where desired. We are also available to appear in probate court in order to serve the needs of our clients in probate and trust administration matters and protective proceedings such as conservatorships and guardianships. Finally, we provide compassionate personal support and counsel in the settlement and administration of estates.
We provide a personalized approach for each of our clients seeking to protect and enhance their estates for themselves and their beneficiaries. |
Free initial consultations are available.
Please call us at
(973)376-1234
or email us at peter_cook_esq@yahoo.com so that we can set up a convenient time for your consultation. Evening and weekend consultations are also available.
Our clients are attracted to us because of the outstanding legal services provided and stay with us because of the high level of personal attention.
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