Trusts and Estates Law Practice
Effective estate planning combines a knowledge of tax law and the ability to carry out a client’s wishes, often in the context of complex even adversarial family relationships. Members of our Trusts & Estates Law department possess over fifty years of experience in achieving these goals. Due to the increasing complexity and uncertainty of the tax law, it is critical to do advance planning for matters relating to asset distribution and healthcare. This is accomplished through wills, lifetime trusts, gifting, and lifetime transfer to future generations income tax and retirement planning.
DHC has five offices located in New York City, NY, Albany, NY, Washington, D.C., White Plains, NY and Palm Beach, FL.
Our Trusts & Estates lawyers can be an invaluable source of guidance through these complex processes. We listen to the needs and goals of our clients and develop a customized plan to preserve, protect, and transfer assets. Asset protection is also a field in which our Trusts & Estates Law department can provide guidance. We can help you develop an effective estate plan that will avoid the necessity of loved ones making decisions on a crisis basis during a time of grief. Our plans also involve the integration of attorneys in our Estates Litigation group who help advise if there are any flaws in the client’s wishes which could potentially cause disputes among beneficiaries or trustees and trust beneficiaries.
Members of our Trusts & Estates group have extensive experience in advising high net worth individuals on trusts & estates issues, including a variety of trust and estate planning options, tax issues, wealth transfers, asset valuation issues, family business transfer or continuation planning, estate accountings, and planning for retirement. We also assist our clients in arranging for charitable giving including the organization and administration of charitable foundations and trusts, coordinated with their estate planning.
Because tax considerations are a major aspect of estate planning, our trusts & estates lawyers follow the changes in federal and state laws to enhance our clients’ abilities to maximize the benefits of gift, estate, and intergenerational transfers. In addition, we have long-standing experience in tax and tax-related litigation in state and federal courts, including the Surrogate’s Court and the U.S. Tax Court. We also represent clients before the Internal Revenue Service.
In addition, it is important to integrate this tax planning with the advance appointment or designation of guardians, medical and financial powers of attorney, and healthcare powers to implement continuity of testamentary planning in the event of health issues affecting competency and the ability to continue financial and testamentary plans in the event of a disability.
Our New York law firm offers trusts & estates administration
DHC’s trusts & estates lawyers can assist in the administration of complex trusts and estates. The administration of long-term trusts often raises competing issues between beneficiaries which then must be resolved by the trustees. The extensive experience of our trusts & estates lawyers will be of great assistance to the trustees in their administration of the trust and in carrying out the decedent’s wishes in an efficient and non-confrontational manner.
Dispute resolution
Family dynamics can sometimes lead to disagreements about the validity of a trust or will and confusion over the decedent’s wishes. Our trusts & estates lawyers are experienced in resolving disputes between the fiduciary and/or beneficiaries and family members, and in providing creative and tax efficient solutions. In cases where disputes cannot be resolved amicably, our trusts & estates lawyers are prepared to interpret and enforce the decedent’s wishes.
Key Takeaways: Trusts & Estates Law
Customized Estate Planning for New York Individuals and Families
DHC’s New York Trusts & Estates Law Practice helps clients develop customized estate plans designed to preserve, protect, and transfer assets according to their wishes. The firm assists with wills, lifetime trusts, gifting, lifetime transfers to future generations, income tax planning, retirement planning, and healthcare-related planning.
Planning for Complex Family, Tax, and Asset Protection Issues
Effective estate planning often requires both a strong understanding of tax law and the ability to carry out a client’s wishes in complex family situations. DHC’s Trusts & Estates lawyers help clients address asset distribution, tax considerations, wealth transfers, family business planning, charitable giving, and other sensitive planning issues.
Guidance for High-Net-Worth Individuals and Families in New York
DHC advises high-net-worth individuals on a wide range of trusts and estates matters, including trust and estate planning options, tax issues, asset valuation, estate accountings, retirement planning, and family business transfer or continuation planning. The firm also assists with charitable giving, including the organization and administration of charitable foundations and trusts.
Advance Planning for Healthcare, Guardianship, and Powers of Attorney
DHC helps clients plan ahead so loved ones are not forced to make important decisions during a crisis or time of grief. The firm assists with asset protection planning and helps integrate estate plans with guardianship designations, medical and financial powers of attorney, and healthcare powers to support continuity if health or competency issues arise.
Tax Planning and New York Estate Litigation Insight
Because tax considerations are a major part of estate planning, DHC’s Trusts & Estates lawyers monitor changes in federal and state law to help clients maximize the benefits of gift, estate, and intergenerational transfers. The firm also has experience in tax and tax-related litigation in state and federal courts, including Surrogate’s Court and the U.S. Tax Court, and represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service.
Trust and Estate Administration in New York
DHC assists with the administration of complex trusts and estates, including long-term trusts where competing issues may arise among beneficiaries. The firm helps trustees administer trusts, carry out the decedent’s wishes, and resolve issues efficiently and, when possible, in a non-confrontational manner.
Dispute Resolution for Trusts, Wills, and Estates
Family dynamics can sometimes lead to disputes over the validity of a trust or will, disagreements about a decedent’s wishes, or conflicts among fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and family members. DHC’s Trusts & Estates lawyers help clients seek creative and tax-efficient solutions and, when disputes cannot be resolved amicably, are prepared to interpret and enforce the decedent’s wishes.
Integrated Planning with Estate Litigation Support
DHC’s Trusts & Estates planning may also involve attorneys in the firm’s Estates Litigation group when needed. This helps identify potential issues in a client’s estate plan that could later create disputes among beneficiaries, trustees, or trust beneficiaries.
New York Trusts & Estates Law Practice Leadership
DHC’s Trusts & Estates Law Practice is chaired by Charles Capetanakis, Partner – New York State Government Relations Group, and Jennifer L. Saint-Louis, Partner. The page also lists attorneys Matthew C. Harnisch, Associate; John P. Corrigan, Of Counsel; Deidre M. Baker, Associate; Ashwani Prabhakar, Associate; and Tyler K. Shoenfelt, Associate.
New York Trusts & Estates Law Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What services does DHC’s New York Trusts & Estates Law Practice provide?
DHC assists clients with estate planning, asset protection, wills, lifetime trusts, gifting, lifetime transfers, income tax planning, retirement planning, charitable giving, estate administration, trust administration, and dispute resolution. The firm develops customized plans to help clients preserve, protect, and transfer assets according to their goals and wishes.
Why is advance estate planning important for New York individuals and families?
Advance estate planning helps clients make important decisions about asset distribution, healthcare planning, tax strategy, guardianship, powers of attorney, and future transfers before a crisis occurs. A well-prepared estate plan can help reduce uncertainty, protect loved ones, and avoid forcing family members to make difficult decisions during a time of grief or conflict.
How does DHC help high-net-worth individuals and families with trusts and estates matters?
DHC advises high-net-worth individuals and families on trust and estate planning options, tax issues, wealth transfers, asset valuation, family business transfer or continuation planning, estate accountings, retirement planning, and charitable giving. The firm helps coordinate these issues within a broader plan designed to preserve wealth and carry out the client’s wishes.
Can DHC assist with trust and estate administration in New York?
Yes. DHC’s Trusts & Estates lawyers assist with the administration of complex trusts and estates, including long-term trusts where trustees may need to resolve competing issues among beneficiaries. The firm helps trustees carry out the decedent’s wishes efficiently and, when possible, in a non-confrontational manner.
Who is part of DHC’s New York Trusts & Estates Law Practice?
DHC’s Trusts & Estates Law Practice is chaired by Charles Capetanakis, Partner – New York State Government Relations Group, and Jennifer L. Saint-Louis, Partner. The page also lists attorneys Matthew C. Harnisch, Associate; John P. Corrigan, Of Counsel; Deidre M. Baker, Associate; Ashwani Prabhakar, Associate; and Tyler K. Shoenfelt, Associate.
