Probate administration is the process of transferring the assets and legal interests of the deceased to his or her beneficiaries. Sound simple? It might be. Did the decedent have a Will and leave everything to his or her spouse? The process can be straightforward, quick, and inexpensive. Did the decedent have no will, spouse, children, or siblings, but pass with significant assets? The process is complicated and could take years.

In 20+ years of practice, I have seen the widest range of estate scenarios and am well-suited and staffed to handle your needs.

I joke with my clients that I love cleaning up a good mess, but in those scenarios where you don’t even know where to start, my experience, problem-solving skills, and connections can help you the most.

-Testate Estates (Estates with a Will)
-Intestate Estates (Estates without a Will)
-Estates Relieved from Full Administration
-Insolvent Estates (More debts than assets)
-Testamentary Trust Estates
-Ancillary Estates
-Land Sales
-Determination of Hearship

I have been drafting Wills and Trusts for over 20 years, and have come to understand that while every situation and family dynamic is different, the goal is to get our assets to whom we want them to be received in the simplest and most cost-efficient fashion. I don’t believe in making your estate plan more complicated than it needs to be. Sometimes, a Simple Will or Transfer on Death Deed is appropriate. Sometimes a second marriage with a blended family requires a Revocable Trust and more thought, planning, and complexity in drafting

When most people think of ‘estate planning,’ they are talking about assets after death, but your estate plan also includes documents you need before you pass, Powers of Attorney. Who is going to manage your finances or make health care decisions for you if you can’t?

I walk you through these and other scenarios as we develop your estate plan. I like to set up an initial call with you to understand your needs and then meet as many times as necessary in order to refine and complete your documents.

I help clients with a wide range of Estate Planning documents, but I do not draft specialized Medicaid avoidance Trusts.

A Guardianship is a legal process whereby the Probate Courts first finds that an individual is Incompetent; meaning he or she can no longer make his or her own decisions because of some condition. After the Court makes that determination, it next appoints a suitable Guardian of Person to make medical and placement decisions and a Guardian of Estate to handle the financial affairs of that person we refer to as a Ward.

A Guardianship is often a difficult situation and is a legal process of last resort born out of a lack of planning documents or family conflict.

You will use my knowledge and experience as I guide and represent you as an applicant for Guardian over your loved one.

As with any other legal proceeding, the complexity of the process is determined on the assets involved and family dynamic.

I will help you make that little one a part of your life, permanently. There are special provisions in the law that allow for adoptions in a streamlined and simplified process by Step-Parents, Grandparents, and Legal Custodians.