Estate Planning

Our team at Beller Smith provides estate planning services tailored to meet the individual needs of the particular client. Due to our past years of experience at several large national law firms, we handle simple estate plans through complex estate and tax planning for high net worth individuals. We are committed to providing the highest quality legal services in the most cost-efficient manner possible.

Our range of services include:

Preparation and execution of wills and revocable trusts
Preparation and execution of “advance directives”, including powers of attorney, health care surrogate designations, preneed guardian designations, and living wills
› Creation, funding and administration of the following trusts:

Multi-generation trusts
Specialized trusts for tax planning purposes, such as dynasty trusts and intentionally defective grantor trusts
Charitable trusts such as charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts
Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRTs)
Grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs)
Life insurance trusts (ILITs) and “Crummey” notices

› Organizing, structuring, and handling intra-family loans, sales, and gifts
› Preparation and administration of limited partnerships, general partnerships and limited liability companies, including preparation of related documents such as articles of incorporation, operating agreements, shareholder agreements, by-laws, and buy-sell agreements
› Advising and assisting with respect to beneficiary designations for life insurance, retirement accounts, pension plans, annuities, and other assets
› Preparation or review of tax returns relating to estates, trusts, and gifts
› Formation of private foundations, application for tax exempt status and advising with its ongoing management