Trust and Estate Planning

Amid the hustle and bustle of life, we often overlook a critical aspect of this journey – the legacy we leave behind. 

Nobody wants to leave the world with their assets in disarray, their family grappling with uncertainty in their time of grief, and their businesses halted and discontinued. However, we’ve seen this happen one too many times due to a lack of proper trust and estate planning.

At Calkins Law Firm, we help you get the complete peace of mind and confidence you deserve. Our expert team of attorneys and estate planners will create a strategic plan, ensure your wishes are fulfilled, and your assets go exactly where you want them.

Save your loved ones and business successors the emotional and psychological strain by seeking professional help. Send us a message today for a free consultation!

Our Comprehensive Trust And Estate Planning Services

We provide various services for individuals, corporations, and business owners seeking trust and estate planning. Here’s how we can help you.

Estate Planning

Our attorneys and estate planners will draft wills and testamentary documents and establish living, revocable, and irrevocable trusts. We’ll create powers of attorney for financial and healthcare decisions and designate guardians for minor children.

Trust Formation and Management

We craft various types of trusts, including special needs, charitable, and life insurance trusts. Our experts will help you manage and administer your trusts, including asset allocation and distribution to beneficiaries. If you have any existing trusts that need change, we’ll amend them to adapt to changing circumstances.

Tax Planning

Our attorneys will identify potential tax implications and liabilities and use tax-efficient strategies to minimize estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes. We’ll advise you on strategies to maximize exemptions, deductions, and tax credits, ensuring your estate isn’t overly taxed.

Business Succession Planning

If you’re leaving your business to a successor, we’ll help you develop a smooth transition plan. Our experts will structure buy-sell agreements and ownership transfer strategies. We’ll ensure the smooth transition of business assets and management to successors.

Asset Protection

Our attorneys at Calkins Law Firm are experts at creating legal structures such as family limited partnerships and limited liability companies to protect assets from creditors. We will design asset protection trusts to shield wealth from potential risks and liabilities.

Special Needs Planning

We will help you establish special needs trusts to provide for individuals with disabilities. We understand how important it is for you to ensure the well-being and financial security of loved ones with special needs. We’ll design strategies to cater to these needs while preserving eligibility for government benefits.

Probate and Estate Administration

We will guide your family and beneficiaries through the probate process and legal validation of wills. Our experts will also assist with the inventory of assets, debt settlement, and distribution of property to heirs. While we’re proud of our ability to conduct a seamless administration process, our experts will resolve disputes and controversies that may arise.

Charitable Giving Strategies

If you love philanthropy, we do too. Our attorneys and estate planners are experts at

• Advising clients on charitable giving options and goals.
• Creating charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, and donor-advised funds.
• Structuring strategies that align with clients' philanthropic values and financial objectives.

Legacy Planning

What legacy do you wish to leave behind? How do you want your values and morals to be represented? Whatever it is, we’ll create personalized plans to ensure the continuation of your values, wishes, and financial legacy. We’ll also develop strategies to pass on non-financial assets like family stories, traditions, and values.

Cross-Border Trusts and Estate Planning Services

We live in a world interconnected by opportunities that transcend borders, and your life’s journey might take you far from home. This can add a layer of complexity to your trust and estate planning. However, our attorneys can be your compass, advocate, and guide to preserve your international wealth.

Consultation and Education

We provide consultations to assess your needs and goals while educating you on the legal implications of various options and helping you make informed decisions. We will help you stay updated on changes in laws and regulations related to estate planning and communicate these updates to you.

Why Choose Calkins Law Firm

At Calkins Law Firm, we uphold our commitment to the 5 E’s that make up the excellence of our services. They include the following:

1. Expertise: We’re a boutique law firm focusing solely on business law.
2. Experience: Our attorneys have a combined 100 years of experience helping clients like you.
3. Empathy: We listen attentively to your concerns with heartfelt compassion to create client-centric solutions tailored to your needs.
4. Enthusiasm: We love to see our clients satisfied and their wishes fulfilled. Our expert attorneys are always willing to represent you.
5. Ethics: Our excellent attitude to work is what sets us apart from any other law firm. We’re not just a law firm; we’re your partners working towards a common goal.

More than just the 5 E’s, we also sweeten the pot with a fantastic fee arrangement that lets you pay only for the services you receive. Take the first step today by scheduling a free consultation with us.