Estate, Trust & Wealth Preservation

Navigate the legal and tax complexities of wealth preservation

Capabilities at a glance

  • Guiding generations of affluent families with insights informed by experience. We understand the intricacies of sophisticated wealth-preservation structures — when you need them and when you don’t.
  • Comprehensive planning and administration of estates. We work with you to create a customized estate plan and then assist your family with the administration of your estate to ensure your wishes are carried out.
  • Strong client relationships are at the heart of everything we do. We act as trusted advisors and take the time to understand our clients’ concerns and family dynamics.
  • As part of a national, full-service law firm we draw on a deep bench of colleagues able to seamlessly assist clients with business law, charitable planning, tax, real estate and other matters.

Dedicated estate and trust attorneys who are here for your needs

The Estate, Trust & Wealth Preservation Practice Group has been an integral part of Quarles since the firm's inception, and one thing has not changed: our dedication to maintaining strong long-term relationships. Many of the families we counsel have been with us for decades. This long-range view of our clients’ histories and values enables us to provide counsel tailored to their needs. Our approach is personal, and we share a commitment with our clients to ongoing and proactive estate planning. We work with individuals and families to clarify their goals and set a course that enables them to direct their futures.

Comprehensive knowledge of transfer taxes and succession planning

We work with a wide spectrum of clients on their wealth transfer and preservation needs, including business owners seeking to implement succession planning and families with significant wealth they wish to preserve through careful stewardship. We also work with individuals who are engaged in the creation of new wealth and wish to plan thoughtfully for their future.

Experience

  • Estate planning
  • Trust and estate administration
  • Fiduciary litigation
  • Charitable planning
  • Tax planning
  • Adoption

News & Insights

Service Areas

  • Adoption

    Our practice includes comprehensive legal services to adoptive parents in domestic, interstate and stepparent adoptions. We represent adopting families through the entire process, including pairing birth mothers with clients, terminating the parental rights of the birth parents and finalizing adoptions. The experience of our adoption attorneys includes identifying adoption methods and resources, explaining the specific laws that apply to individual states, assessing the risks throughout the process, and ensuring the client's and child's needs and best interests are met. We understand that, for our clients, the decision to adopt a child is about growing as a family, and we strive to make the experience as positive as possible.

  • Business Succession Planning

    Control of a business following the death of an owner should not be left to chance. You need support from trusted advisors with a strategic approach to business succession. We provide personalized advice, analysis and discretion.

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  • Charitable Planning

    We collaborate with individuals and families to accomplish their philanthropic intentions. We understand charitable giving is often a significant component of our clients' wealth planning. We ensure our clients’ philanthropy is tax-efficient, cost-effective, strategic and meaningful.

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  • Estate Planning

    We provide comprehensive estate planning focused on reducing the potential tax impact and guiding individuals and families through the process of defining their final wishes, including the following estate planning services:

    • Preparation of estate planning documents
    • Gift, estate and income tax planning
    • Family business and succession planning
    • Charitable planning
  • Fiduciary Litigation

    We represent fiduciaries and beneficiaries involved in trust contests, will disputes, attempted removal or surcharges of trustees, will and trust constructions, and other fiduciary litigation. Drawing on the combined resources of a long-established Estate, Trust & Wealth Preservation Practice Group and a strong bench of litigators, we achieve solid results efficiently and effectively.

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  • Trust and Estate Services

    Estate and trust administration: We work closely with our clients to efficiently settle estates and trusts following a death. Whether the situation requires court oversight through probate or can be handled outside of court, we have extensive experience determining the appropriate procedures and distributing assets promptly and in accordance with the decedent’s wishes and applicable law.

    Trust administration: We counsel trustees to understand their fiduciary duties and to implement trust agreements. We also counsel trust beneficiaries on their interests and rights.

    Advice to corporate and individual fiduciaries: We advise personal representatives, trustees, agents and guardians regarding all aspects of their fiduciary duties, with a focus on strategic planning to avoid disputes before they occur. If a dispute does arise, we have an experienced fiduciary litigation team ready to become involved.

    Estate and gift tax return preparation: We maintain a sophisticated estate and gift tax return preparation practice founded on working closely with our clients, their accountants and financial advisors. We also are experienced in resolving audits, including challenges to asset valuations.

    Fiduciary accounting and income tax: We prepare fiduciary accountings and income tax returns on behalf of personal representatives and trustees. We also provide advice, review and support on such matters to our clients, their accountants and other professional advisors.

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