There are many ways to transfer assets to one's intended recipients during lifetime and at death.  Hill, Glowacki, Jaeger & Hughes, LLP assists clients in determining the most effective and efficient ways to achieve asset transfer.

     We help you consider the various types of taxes that may apply to these transfers and recommend methods for minimizing or eliminating the potential for estate and gift taxation wherever this is feasible and desirable.  The estate planning services which we provide include the following:

• Analyzing and evaluating estate planning options;
• Drafting wills and living trusts;
• Drafting marital property agreements;
• Preparing financial and health care powers of attorney;
• Evaluating distribution options from pension and profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans and IRA's to achieve optimal tax deferral;
• Planning for charitable gifts and trusts.

     Our estate planning attorneys attend and teach continuing legal education courses to keep up with the most current developments involving estate planning techniques, marital property law, probate, and trust administration and taxation. They also teach at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Estate Planning for Special Needs
     Many families have disabled children or other beneficiaries who are or will require governmental assistance to meet their medical and basic living needs.  Our attorneys are familiar with the complex a issues of Medicaid and SSI law that must be considered in estate planning for disabled beneficiaries.

     We can assist you in drafting trusts that will maintain an MA or SSI recipient's qualification for such benefit programs.  If you are the trustee of a trust for a disable person, we can advise you on how to administer the trust so that governmental benefits are not jeopardized.

     Many of our attorneys are members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the State Bar of Wisconsin Elder Law Section which provide the latest information on these programs.

Estate and Trust Administration
     The death of a loved one is a time of great difficulty for many families. One issue that must be confronted is administering the deceased individual's estate. This can involve probate of a will, administration of a revocable trust, or guidance regarding how to collect insurance proceeds, transfer title to bank accounts or transfer title to real estate.

     There are also tax issues relating to the distribution of assets held in pension and profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans and IRA's.  The paralegals and attorneys of Hill, Glowacki, Jaeger & Hughes can assist you with all of your estate administration needs.  We can either advise you on how to administer the estate yourself, or handle the entire process for you.  We can prepare and file the necessary court filings, estate tax returns and fiduciary income tax concerns.

     We can also offer advice on the most tax effective means of taking distributions from various retirement plans.  We can assist in winding up and distributing revocable trusts.  While dealing with the death of a loved one is never easy, we can help make the process as smooth as possible.

Printer-Friendly Version