Estate Planning

Vestevich, Mallender, DuBois & Dritsas has an extensive probate, guardianship, conservatorship, estate and tax planning law practice. The attorneys at VMD&D strive to meet our clients' needs in the most efficient and effective manner possible and provide our clients with practical solutions for estate planning and tax planning.

VMD&D's tax and estate planning attorneys listen, educate, recommend, design, and assist in the implementation of safe, flexible, comprehensive yet understandable, efficient, and cost effective innovative tax and non-tax oriented wealth formation and transfer strategies and related documents in order to achieve the goals and objectives of our clients. Estate planning frequently reaches beyond issues solely of taxation.

The only thing that ever remains constant is "change." Therefore, we strive to help develop adaptive solutions to accommodate changes in (i) the laws; (ii) the client's feelings; (iii) marital or domestic partner relationships; (iv) asset changes; (v) health circumstances; and (vi) family and/or partner business relationships.

We cover the basics to the highly complex as the facts and circumstances may dictate.

We prepare:

• Wills
• Traditional Trusts
• Living Trusts
• Asset Protection Trusts
• Qualified Domestic Trusts
• Pet Trusts
• Education Trusts
• Charitable Trusts (Lead, Uni, Annuity and Remainder)
• Private Foundations and Not For Profit Planning
• Limited Liability Companies
• Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts
• Qualified Personal Residence Trusts
• Dynasty Trusts
• Voting Trusts and Agreements
• Trusts for beneficiaries with Special Needs
• General Durable Powers of Attorney
• HIPAA Release Agreements
• Health Care Powers of Attorney

VMD&D actively advises clients with regard to the following areas:

• Estate and gift taxes
• Generation skipping transfer tax planning
• Income taxes
• Life vs. death planning
• Gift planning
• Post mortem tax planning
• Tax and succession planning for owners of closely held businesses
• Asset protection
• Multi-generational planning
• Charitable planning
• Estate & trust administration and litigation
• Trust reformations
• Executive compensation planning
• Counseling on retirement distribution taxes
• Estate & gift tax return preparation
• Probate controversies
• Guardianships / conservatorships
• Trust funding
• Marital agreements and domestic partner agreements
• Post-marital agreement negotiations
• Counseling fiduciaries
• Tax audits and controversies
• State and local taxation
• Asset allocation considerations

We strive to work ccoperatively with our clients' other professional advisors, including their accountants, financial advisors, appraisers, bankers and insurance advisors. Our goal is to meet periodically with the client's team in order to maintain and enhance planning opportunities, abate potential problems, and to continue to achieve the client’s current and changing goals and objectives. We try to structure our planning in ways to minimize and hopefully deter possible conflicts within the family and/or business structure.

At Vestevich, Mallender, DuBois & Dritsas, we pride ourselves in prompt, attentive, and cost-effective service, in the process of providing comprehensive and innovative solutions, without possible disruption to our clients of their other planning considerations. We strive to customize the legal services to meet the unique circumstances of each client.

When handling estate planning for individuals, VMD&D attorneys focus on surpassing a client’s financial, tax, and personal goals. We represent clients ranging from corporate executives and principals of closely held businesses to retired individuals, U.S. citizens residing abroad and foreign nationals with domestic interests. Our attorneys are sensitive to the fact that client decisions affect not only the client, but also family and other intended beneficiaries.

For more information about our Estate Planning and Administration practice, please contact:
Peter Vestevich 
Sam DuBois 
Andrew B. Janies 
James A. Boucher 
L. Stanford Evans 

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