Services

Estate Planning and Administration

Estate planning and administration are at the heart of John’s practice. John regularly serves clients with assets ranging from thousands to millions of dollars.

Estate Planning

Estate planning is a lifetime process, responsive to life and family events, financial events, and changes in the law.

John begins the estate planning process by reviewing each client’s family history, finances, assets, lifestyle, and desires for gifting. He discusses, as needed, the following options to achieve each client’s goals:

  • Wills
  • Trusts
    • Testamentary Trusts
    • Revocable Living Trusts
    • Irrevocable Trusts
  • Codicils, Restatements, and Amendments
  • Beneficiary Designations
  • Lifetime Giving
  • Charitable Giving
  • Power of Attorney
  • Advance Directives
  • Burial Directives

Estate Administration

  • Probate
  • Small Estate Proceedings
  • Advising Trustees

Protective Proceedings – Guardianships and Conservatorships

A core area of John’s practice are protective proceedings, also known as guardianships and conservatorships. These are court-supervised relationships that allow another person to make decisions on behalf of someone who is incapacitated (the “protected person”). Guardianship empowers a guardian to make a broad range of health care decisions (including long-term care placement) for the protected person. Conservatorship empowers a conservator to make decisions about the protected person’s assets and finances.

Guardianship or conservatorship may not be necessary to assist someone who is experiencing a decline in capacity. An important first step in any case is assessment of alternative solutions that may be available.

If guardianship or conservatorship is needed, John can help petition the court for appointment of a fiduciary. John can also advise fiduciaries after their appointment.

Additionally, in cases where John does not represent the petitioner or fiduciary, John can advocate for a person who objects to the appointment of a fiduciary.

  • Case evaluation and exploration of alternatives
  • Petition for guardianship and/or conservatorship
  • Temporary proceedings for emergency cases
  • Advising and representing fiduciaries
  • Advocacy for protected persons and interested persons