Over 25 Years Guiding Clients Through Estate And Probate Planning And Litigation

Estate Planning – More Than Just A Will

While a will is one of the building blocks of an estate plan, a comprehensive strategy includes items such as health care directives, tax planning, gift planning and more. The greater the assets you have to pass along, the more critical the need for a comprehensive estate plan.

Estate planning can be complex and involves many interwoven strands. In addition to the parts of an estate plan that most people think of, such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney and living wills and health care surrogate designations, there are myriad other considerations when building an estate plan, and a variety of vehicles for executing your wishes, such as:

  • Special needs trusts
  • Guardianships (including contested guardianships)
  • Asset protection planning
  • Transfer tax planning
  • Irrevocable grantor trusts
  • Irrevocable life insurance trusts
  • Grantor-retained annuity trusts
  • Charitable lead and charitable remainder trusts
  • Qualified personal residence trusts (“QPRTs”)
  • Dynasty trusts
  • Gift planning, “annual exclusion” gift programs, and pre-paid tuition contracts
  • Business planning and business succession
  • Family limited partnerships and family limited liability companies
  • Buy-sell agreements
  • Compensation planning for family members, and related employment and consulting agreements
  • Organizing and structuring business entities for individuals, families and their businesses
  • Advising on venture investments and entrepreneurial activities by individuals, families and their businesses
  • Estate administration
  • Preparation of and advising on federal estate tax returns and state inheritance tax returns, including gift tax returns relating to estate planning
  • Disclaimers and other postmortem transfer tax planning
  • Generation-skipping tax planning
  • Estate disputes
  • Will contests and litigation
  • Trust administration and disputes and litigation
  • Contested estate administrations, including probate litigation
  • Complex estate and trust accountings
  • Fiduciary representation
  • Trust reformations
  • Trust construction actions
  • Changing the situs of trusts
  • Advising fiduciaries on compliance

If you do not have a plan in place, the state of Florida will step in and determine how your assets should be distributed, which could very well be quite different from what you had intended. An estate plan ensures that your wishes are respected and carried out.

Representing You In Litigation

Even with a strong estate plan in place, there may be litigation. In addition to developing your estate plan, Charles T. Weiss, P.A., represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in will contests, trust administration disputes, and complex estate and trust administration issues. Within these general areas of activity, Mr. Weiss assists individuals, families, closely held businesses and their fiduciaries and other advisors with all aspects of estate planning and litigation.

As Your Life Changes, So Should Your Estate Plan

Each year brings new goals and circumstances for the clients attorney Weiss is privileged to represent. The enduring constant since 1996 is the trust and responsibility Mr. Weiss’ clients give him, and his commitment to their goals. He offers the highest quality representation, innovative thinking and practical solutions to every client matter. To talk about your estate planning needs, call561-848-9970 or reach out via email today.