Taft & McSally LLP

Taft & McSally LLPprovide a wide range of estate planning and administration services to clients seeking to protect and manage personal and family assets, minimize taxes, and plan for future generations. The firm's attention is focused on each individual client's circumstances and family needs. The attorneys have extensive knowledge and experience in traditional estate planning and administration functions, such as preparing wills and trust agreements, handling probate proceedings and administering revocable and irrevocable trusts. In addition, the firm works with owners of closely-held businesses to resolve valuation issues, gift and estate tax issues, and provide succession planning. The firm has experience in the creating and maintaining of all types of lifetime and testamentary trusts including:

• Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs)
• Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs)
• Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP) Marital Trusts
• Charitable Lead and Remainder Trusts
• Healthcare Powers of Attorney
• Living Wills

Together with a variety of other estate planning vehicles including Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs) and Limited Liability Companies (LLCs).

The firm regularly helps clients establish estate plans to minimize gift and estate taxes, but tax savings is not our only objective. The lawyers recognize that other considerations are equally important, such as family relationships, and they take pride in offering practical suggestions and advice to assist our clients in resolving such issues. The lawyers work with their clients to create a comprehensive estate plan, which includes financial powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney, living wills, and other documents as needed.

Elder Law is a distinct legal field which concentrates on the legal, financial, social, and health care needs of one specific sector of society: the elderly. It is a law practice that is built on compassion, care, and concern for the older client. We can help with estate planning, medicaid issues, guardianship and conservatorship questions.

Probate is the legal process by which a person's debts are paid and assets are distributed upon her or his death. Estate Administration includes the probate process as well as non-probate transfers of the deceased's assets. Individual state laws direct the probate court how to distribute the deceased's estate. State laws and procedures vary greatly, so, it is important to consult an attorney with expertise in this area of the law to ensure that the deceased's assets are distributed correctly.