Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts & Probate

Estate planning is not solely for high net worth individuals. Every individual and family can benefit from a sound estate plan. At Firestone, Brehm, Wolf & Whitney LLP, we work with our clients to create the appropriate estate plans for their needs. We understand that the future is uncertain. By counseling our clients to plan for the future they want, we help make it a little less uncertain.

Our services include advising clients on the laws of intestate succession, testate succession, transfer or death deeds and accounts, wills, living trusts, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, charitable remainder trusts, financial powers or attorney, and health care powers of attorney. We know that your situation may involve unique complexities that cannot be addressed by standard forms. For example, we have experience planning for possible future divorces as well as avoiding unintended inheritance by a former spouse, and we know how to help you address the complexities of passing wealth to minors or adults who need limits and supervision on what they inherit and when they inherit it. We also can help you plan for your long-term health care needs. And, we have significant experience in estate planning for farms and other small businesses.

For many people, an important consideration in estate planning is asset conservation. This means that our attorneys will work with you and you financial planners in order to best minimize tax and probate burdens. Whether this is by creating a living trust or a private foundation, or even determining gift programs, we bring our years of experience to each client's particular situation.

Because the division of assets is emotional as well as financial, we understand that situations may arise where beneficiaries are unsatisfied with the allocation of the assets. Our firm is here to settle disputes that often arise upon the probating and administration of an estate.

We also work with tax authorities in order to ensure that each estate is taxed appropriately and not overburdened with outsize taxes.