Estate Planning and Administration/Probate

Attorney Thomas J. Drew of Fairfield expert in Estate Planning and Administration/Probate

Estate planning generally involves providing legal advice as to the most effective, sensible and cost effective manner (including minimizing estate and income taxes, probate and other costs) to arrange one’s affairs upon their death and/or lifetime asset transfers. If this is not done properly you and your family are at risk of losing assets and financial independence earned over a lifetime. These services, therefore, include the drafting of Wills, Revocable Living a, Life Insurance Trusts, and other trusts,  Living Wills, Powers of Attorney among other legal instruments, strategies and techniques.

Higher net worth individuals whether with careers in a larger corporate executive environment, business owners or entrepreneurs as well as individuals of more modest means generally all need such services which I can provide at, generally, a very reasonable cost in a value added manner.   Estate Administration, which often (but not always) includes Probate Court involvement can be either a very satisfying and efficient timely process or potentially, in some situations, rife with family or other conflict and unnecessary delay and cost.

If a love one dies and you have not taken the appropriate action a family can experience extreme and unnecessary financial and other tragedy. My view and approach is to first carefully plan ahead to minimize potential risks of problems and to listen carefully regarding unique family circumstances, challenges, needs and other dynamics and to offer common sense and legally effective solutions. I explain to clients and families, if desired, exactly how the process works and seek to ascertain the client’s and family’s intent and capability to divide the work involved between attorney and client to achieve the desired efficiency and cost effectiveness. In some situations this can be an extremely stressful process and I am very sensitive to that and will seek to listen carefully to minimize or eliminate that serious burden and stress.