Practice Areas
Probate
Probate is the court supervised process that identifies a decedent's assets, pays their debts and distributes their property to their heirs or beneficiaries. Probate may be required to legally transfer title to certain assets. We will assist you with the probate process. This includes having wills admitted to probate, being appointed administrator or executor of the estate, and assisting you with the administrative duties that are necessary to close probate.
Conservatorships
A conservatorship may be needed if one can no longer provide for his or her personal needs and/ or manage their financial resources. There are two forms of conservatorships. A conservator of the person arranges for the physical care of the individual including providing or finding someone to provide the individual's food, clothing and shelter. A conservator of the estate manages the finances of the individual when they are unable to do so. A court may appoint a conservator of the person, or estate or both. We will assist you with documents and court proceedings necessary to establish and maintain a conservatorship.
Will and Trust Contests or Disputes
Will and trust contests usually involve the challenge to the validity of a document purporting to be the decedent's will or trust. Other disputes may take the form of a challenge to the appointment of an executor or trustee, or action to remove an executor, administrator or trustee for breach of fiduciary duty. Often times these are delicate family situations. We will assist you in reaching an amicable solution or initiating the appropriate civil action.
Trust Administration
This is the process of carrying out the provisions of a trust document. This includes the collection and management of assets and the distribution of assets to beneficiaries. The duties of a trustee are numerous. A trustee can be held personally liable to the beneficiaries for his or her failure to comply with these duties. We assist successor trustees with these tasks to ensure proper administration of the trust.
Elder Abuse
Elders can be the victim of financial abuse in the form of fraud or undue influence. Signs of financial elder abuse include unusual banking activities, sudden change in estate plan, or a sudden, irrational transfer of assets. Usually abusers are family members, caregivers or other trusted individuals of the victim. If you feel the problem is extensive and beyond control, we may be able to help. We will assist with the recovery of lost, stolen or transferred assets.
Estate Planning
Estate planning involves the allocation of accumulated assets both before and after death. Usually this is done by way of will and trust. However, there are a number of tools that can be used to help you meet your estate planning goals. We will assist you with finding the best way to protect your assets and ensure that they are distributed according to your wishes.
Personal Injury
Personal injury includes injuries sustained to your mind, body or emotions from an accident. It could be a car accident, a slip and fall accident or injuries sustained from a product defect or malfunction. Insurance companies consider many factors such as medical bills, time lost from work, and pain and suffering when deciding how much to offer and eventually pay. We will negotiate on your behalf and maintain all necessary civil actions so that you may receive compensation.
Breach of Contract
Breach of contract is the failure to perform any obligation under a contract, whether oral or written, without a legal excuse. Tell us about your contract, your expectations, and the damages you incurred and we will assess your claim, explore your options and advise you of your rights. We will vigorously protect your rights.
Guardianships
Just as a conservator accepts responsibility for the financial and personal needs of an adult, a guardian does so for a minor. The court may appoint a guardian of a minor when needed and will supervise this guardianship until the minor reaches 18 years of age. We will assist you with the establishment of the guardianship and the court proceedings thereafter.