Cotney’s Wills, Trusts and Estates Practice Group provides a full range of estate planning services. Our attorneys are well-versed in testacy laws and have distinguished themselves as leaders in estate planning and administration. We provide our clients with advice and assistance for how to best conserve, manage, and transfer wealth as well as minimize taxes whenever possible. This includes income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes. We also provide guidance regarding the transfer of all types of property interests, including closely held corporations, partnerships, employee benefits, sole and family proprietorships, real estate, and other investments.

A number of our firm’s clients have charities as a crucial component of their gift and estate tax and income tax planning. We routinely assist our clients with the preparation and creation of foundations and charitable trusts (charitable lead trusts and charitable remainder trusts) and represent charitable organizations in connection with the receipt of gifts and bequests. We also regularly assist in their financial matters and administrative affairs, including issues regarding the formation.

Some of our specific areas of experience include:

  • Asset Protection Planning
  • Estate, Gift and Income Tax Planning
  • Post-Mortem Estate and Income Tax Planning
  • Estate Planning for Non-Citizens
  • Estate and Income Tax Audit and Litigation
  • Planned Charitable Giving
  • Formation and Representation of Private Foundations and Public Charities
  • Representation of Fiduciaries and Beneficiaries in Probate and Trust Proceedings
  • Guardianships
  • Retirement Benefits and Tax Planning for Distributions from Pension Plans and IRAs
  • 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) formation and maintenance

Planning for the entire family is a growing concern for many clients. We advise clients on the use of multi-generational, spendthrift trusts, and other vehicles to protect assets. In addition, we also negotiate and draft prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, as well as assist in planning for property division incidental to a divorce.

When our clients’ legal needs require advice in other practice areas, we work closely with attorneys throughout our firm in drafting corporate and contractual documents and other matters related to estate planning. We regularly work with lawyers in our Tax, Real Estate, Litigation, Creditor’s Rights and Corporate practice areas and consult with other advisors retained by our clients, such as accountants, bankers, and insurance professionals.