The attorneys of Blake Law Group, P.C. have experience in preparing estate plans for our clients. We work with our clients through the estate planning process, from analyzing the family’s financial circumstances and goals, to educating our clients about the range of estate planning options, and to drafting and implementing the estate plan. We prepare estate plans for a wide range of clients, from young families with children, retirees and seniors, to business owners and others. Some of the instruments we prepare as estate planning attorneys include: wills, trusts, irrevocable trusts, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney for property, powers of attorney for healthcare, insurance trusts, family limited partnerships, Dynasty trusts, living wills and numerous other estate planning documents. We are passionate, caring, courteous and patient attorneys since we understand the estate planning process can be challenging given facts and circumstances which differ with each case.
Protecting Your Interests in Will Contests, Trust Litigation and Probate Litigation
The attorneys at Blake Law Group, P.C., are experienced litigators with a major focus on resolving conflicts and controversies surrounding wills, trusts, intestate estates, and other probate issues. Our contested wills and trusts attorneys represent both heirs and beneficiaries, as well as executors and administrators in disputes that include:
• Validity of a will and disputes over a trust
• Disputes relating to the competency of the person who made the will
• Conflict over terms of a will
• Disputes when a person dies intestate (when there is no will)
• Claims of a surviving child or spouse not included in a will
• Breach of fiduciary duty claims in a trust or will
• Claims of over-reaching on the part of a trust administrator
• Disputes relating to estate fraud
• Other probate disputes
Attorneys for Contested Wills and Trusts
If a will in which you are a beneficiary is being challenged, or if you are concerned that a loved one was unduly influenced during the writing of a will, or if you believe that a trust administrator is not fulfilling their fiduciary duties, we can advise you about your rights under the law and how to best approach a defense or whether you have a reason to file a legal claim.
Wills
We have been preparing wills for decades. These documents take into account the identity of personal representatives, successor personal representatives, beneficiaries and trust provisions. This would also entail staggered distributions to minors in regard to bequests, depending upon facts and circumstances.
Trusts
We have been involved in trust matters for years, including drafting Irrevocable Trusts, Revocable Trusts, Medicaid Trust, Testamentary Trusts, Interval Trusts, and other documents. This work includes identifying trustees, successor trustees, the terms and conditions of any trusts, directives regarding distributions made to beneficiaries or others and similar matters.
Power of Attorney
We have been involved in the drafting and modification of power of attorneys for years. These include power of attorneys for health care, power of attorneys for property, durable power of attorneys, limited power of attorneys, and living wills and other documents. These documents can be customized to fit the exact nature and circumstances of the factual situation involving a client.
Elder Law
We have been involved in assisting various parties with their estate planning needs for decades. This work has included not only office visits, but also meeting at hospitals, nursing homes or other locations, depending upon the requests of the client. We often work with the client, family members, nursing homes and state agencies in regard to these matters.
Guardianships
There are occasions when guardianships of the person and/or estate may be recommended so that a loved one or other may receive letters of guardianship to deal with nursing homes or state agencies. Our work in this area includes representation in Court and handling annual accounts or other requirements involved in a guardianship.
Probate Avoidance
We have represented clients for years regarding probate avoidance, including through the use of Revocable Living Trusts or other strategies. If this can be accomplished, there can be significant savings and avoidance of delays in handling administration, without involving the Court.
Medicaid Planning
We are often contacted by family and friends of elderly individuals who face myriad of problems in regard to medicaid planning. Some of these issues have to do with the value of the assets, contemplated transfers and how same may impact medicaid planning. In some instances, individuals are very close to being admitted to a care facility and are concerned about disclosures they are being requested to make. In other cases, clients have concerns regarding what property or income they can keep and how this impacts eligibility for medicaid.
Irrevocable Trusts
We sometimes discuss an irrevocable trust in order to attempt to shield family assets from creditors, or in the context of medicaid planning. We review with our clients the nature and extent of assets of the individual, transfers or other matters impacting the assets to date, review information and materials that may be presented and perform due diligence analysis prior to giving clients their options regarding strategies that may be available.
Estate planning takes into account the identity of personal representatives, successor personal representatives, beneficiaries and trust provisions. This would also entail staggered distributions to minors in regard to bequests, depending upon facts and circumstances. We have been involved in trust matters for years, including drafting Irrevocable Trusts, Revocable Trusts, Medicaid Trusts, Testamentary Trusts, Intervios Trusts, and other documents. This work includes identifying trustees, successor trustees, the terms and conditions of any trusts, directives regarding distributions made to beneficiaries or other and similar matters. We are often contacted by family and friends of elderly individuals who face myriad of problems in regard to Medicaid planning. Some of these issues have to do with the value of the assets, contemplated transfers and how same may impact Medicaid planning. In some instances, individuals are very close to being admitted to a care facility and are concerned about disclosures they are being requested to make. In other cases, clients have concerns regarding what property or income they can keep and how this impacts eligibility for Medicaid. We review with our clients the nature and extent of assets of the individual, transfers or other matters impacting the assets to date, review information and materials that may be presented and perform due diligence analysis prior to giving clients their options regarding strategies that may be available.