Estate Planning/Probate and Trust Administration

Estate planning can be complicated and emotional. It is a multifaceted area which demands intense creativity, innovation and sensitivity. At Bass, Doherty & Finks we offer practical solutions to the complex challenges of wealth preservation. We develop sophisticated plans to shift wealth from one generation to the next in a tax efficient manner while always remaining sensitive to our clients’ non-tax goals. Working closely with clients, their families and their other trusted advisors, our approach is highly personalized, educational and structured. Our skill is in designing, explaining and implementing the appropriate estate planning vehicles to meet the client's objectives. We utilize the most effective methods including many of the following:

  • Wills
  • Revocable Living Trusts
  • Durable Powers of Attorney
  • Health Care Proxies
  • Parental Appointments of Guardians for Minors
  • Family Limited Liability Companies
  • Family Limited Partnerships
  • Generation Skipping Dynasty Trusts
  • Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts
  • Qualified Personal Residence Trusts
  • Charitable Remainder or Lead Trusts
  • Charitable Gifting Programs
  • Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
  • Special (Supplemental) Needs Trusts
  • Private Foundations
  • Defective Grantor Trusts
  • Business Succession Plans
  • Buy/Sell Agreements
  • Prenuptial Agreements
  • Leveraged and Discounted Gifting Structures
  • Family Governance Agreements
  • Ethical Wills
  • and a variety of other appropriate conventional and creative techniques

As part of our long-term commitment to our clients, we are here to assist families upon the death of a loved one. During this emotional time, we complete often complex tasks on behalf of our clients to ensure that assets are transferred in accordance with the client’s estate plan in as seamless a manner as possible so that all legal and tax reporting requirements are met. To that end, Bass, Doherty & Finks provides a full range of trust and estate administration and settlement services to its clients including, but not limited to, the preparation and filing of:

  • Probate Administration Documents
  • Probate and Fiduciary Accountings
  • Estate Tax Returns (Form 706)
  • Gift and Generation Skipping Tax Returns (Form 709)

Our attorneys are often called upon to counsel clients in the preservation of assets as a result of a family member’s aging or disability. As such, we have significant experience in specialized planning situations for the elderly and disabled in areas such as:

  • Guardianships
  • Conservatorships
  • Medicaid Planning
  • Special Needs Planning

For more information, or for specific questions, please feel free to contact us at .