Practice Areas - Estates and Trusts

FWH&L’s Estates and Trusts Group makes every effort to provide the highest quality legal services in estate planning, administration of estates and trusts and Orphans’ Court litigation.

We personalize our approach and pay attention to details in reviewing your estate assets and family needs and then advise you on the best approach to minimize taxes; to provide for guardians and trusts, to make testamentary gifts to charitable organizations and to ensure your assets are legally transferred as you desire.

We strongly recommend your estate plans be comprehensive in nature.  In addition, to your will, we prepare powers of attorney, trust documents, provide business succession planning and work with your financial advisors, if requested, to develop your plan that reflects your objectives and values.  Our group maintains a reputation for being competent and trusted advisors to individuals and generations of families who need simple or complex estate and tax planning.

We also have years of experience in handling will and trusts disputes between family members or parties in interest that could result in litigation in the Orphans’ Court.  Included in our expertise is the preparation of guardian petitions for an incapacitated person or minor. 

The FWH&L Estates and Trusts attorneys have experience in drafting the following:

  • Advanced health directives/living wills
  • Durable powers of attorney
  • Health care powers of attorney
  • Comprehensive plans (simple or complex)
  • Beneficiary designations for Life Insurance and Retirement Accounts
  • Wills
  • Irrevocable life insurance trusts
  • Revocable living trusts
  • Personal residence trusts
  • Special needs trusts
  • Charitable remainder trusts
  • Charitable lead trusts
  • Family Limited Partnerships

FWH&L Estates and Trusts attorneys regularly counsel clients on: 

  • Elder law planning
  • Tax advice
  • Intergenerational transfers of assets

FWH&L Estates and Trusts attorneys are experienced in: 

  • Estate Administration: 
  • Probate, representation of executors and administrators, gathering of assets and payments of debts, inheritance tax returns, estate and gift tax returns, fiduciary income tax returns, receipt and release agreements and family settlement agreements. 
  • Trust Administration: 
  • Representation of trustees and beneficiaries, interpretation and modification of trusts, change of trustee and accounts and administration. 
  • Orphans’ Court Litigation: 
  • Adoptions, guardianships, claims of lack of capacity, will contests, claims of undue influence, breach of fiduciary claims, actions by and against executors or trustees.

 

Attorneys:

Paul Baker Bartle

Richard W. Stevens