Estate Planning – An Overview

Estate planning allows people to provide direction regarding the management and transfer of their assets before and after their death. Such planning also allows for transfer of their assets with the minimum federal and state gift and estate tax implications. In addition, good estate planning allows you to retain control over health care decisions if you become incapacitated. Estate planning can include wills and trusts, as well as powers of attorney, living wills and health care directives.

Creative Estate Planning

Both state and federal laws impact estate planning. Many clients find that more elaborate and or creative legal means are necessary to achieve their goals. Some of these more complex techniques include irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), qualified personal residence trusts (QPRTs) and intentionally-defective grantor trusts (IDGTs).

Estate tax and other estate-related issues are hot legislative items, with new laws being passed on a regular basis. For this reason, competent and experienced estate planning attorneys are essential allies in ensuring that your unique estate planning goals are understood and carried out.

Wills and Trusts

At Betcher & Yunes LLP, our attorneys provide comprehensive, tax-sensitive estate planning. We understand that a proper, solid estate plan can preserve your wishes and protect your heirs from the costly and frustrating probate process. We will discuss your objectives and design a plan that helps you minimize or avoid estate taxes.

We take a personalized approach to estate planning. We navigate our clients through every step, explaining each strategy. We are committed to helping clients achieve their short and long-term objectives through effective planning.

Extensive Guidance

Our attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience handling estate planning matters. Attorney Michael J. Betcher has been drafting estate plans for 30 years. He has a master’s degree in Taxation, which enables him to anticipate tax issues when drafting and revising wills and trusts. Attorney Frank B. Yunes has over 20 years of experience in the trusts and estates area. His experience helps provide insights into establishing trusts that minimize gift and estate tax ramifications, while also achieving clients’ objectives.

We understand that estate planning involves more than just wills and trusts. We provide comprehensive planning, including medical directives. These directives give you the ability to designate a trusted individual to make important healthcare decisions on your behalf.

Our extensive guidance includes drafting, reviewing and revising:

  • Wills
  • Living wills
  • Powers of attorney
  • Healthcare directives
  • Qualified personal residence trusts (QPRTs)
  • Irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs)
  • Revocable trusts
  • Charitable trusts
  • Intentionally-defective grantor trusts (IDGTs)