Understanding Our Clients’ Needs
Cummings & Lockwood attorneys have considerable experience assisting individuals, families and business owners develop comprehensive estate plans and translate their success into a meaningful and lasting legacy.
As a result, we understand the variety of issues our clients face and the inevitable questions that arise when planning for the future:
Who will manage my assets and affairs if I am unable to do so and/or after my death?
How do I provide for my surviving spouse, as well as for my children and grandchildren?
How do I protect my personal, financial and business assets?
What is the best way to transition my wealth or business to the next generation?
How do I minimize or avoid significant taxes?
Should I donate money to various charities or establish a private foundation or other charitable entity?
Core Components of an Estate Plan
The core elements of an estate plan include:
Will: A legal document that specifies how you want your assets distributed after your death and can name an executor to manage your estate and guardians for minor children.
Trusts: A legal arrangement to hold and manage assets for beneficiaries. A living trust, for example, can help avoid the lengthy probate process.
Powers of Attorney: Grants someone the authority to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself.
Healthcare Directives: Also known as a living will or advance health care directive, this document states your wishes for medical care, especially if you are terminally ill or incapacitated.
Beneficiary Designations: The process of naming individuals who will directly inherit specific assets, such as life insurance policies and retirement accounts, outside of a will.
How We Can Help
Cummings & Lockwood’s private clients attorneys offer a full suite of services:
Estate planning and administration
Probate administration
Trust formation and management
Estate, income and gift tax planning
Beneficiary representation
Fiduciary and trustee services
Wealth protection planning
Charitable giving and private foundation advice
Special needs planning
Business succession planning
Delivering Value to Our Clients
Our estate planning attorneys can help clients:
Achieve peace of mind that their family members will be taken care of and protected
Ensure that their assets are distributed in accordance with their wishes and in a seamless, tax-efficient manner
Protect their assets from creditors and from their heirs’ creditors
Minimize state and federal gift and estate taxes
Efficiently fund their charitable causes
Ensure the proper care of minors and disabled family members
Provide stability and management during times of incapacity
Avoid probate in multiple states
Pass their legacy on to their heirs
Support responsible behavior by future generations
For more information, visit our website at www.cl-law.com.
