Experienced Estate And Trust Litigation Lawyers
Our attorneys have had many years of experience in seriously contested estate, trust and accounting litigation, including jury trials in many Surrogate’s Courts in New York state. This includes Westchester, New York, Nassau, Suffolk, Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess and Orange counties as well as in Connecticut Probate Courts of Greenwich, Stamford, Westport, New Canaan, Milford, Southbury, Waterbury and most of Southwestern Connecticut.
We have successfully addressed these complex issues of law, and whenever possible sought to limit unnecessary and prolonged litigation by filing motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment in appropriate cases.
Our Approach To Estate And Trust Cases
Our approach is to analyze the facts and gather the evidence in support of court applications supporting relief for our clients. We spend time on each case to carefully gather all the facts and apply the law to the facts to ascertain all of the strengths and weaknesses of each case and the legal methods necessary to advance our clients’ interests.
Many of our cases have issues relating to the medical condition of a decedent before death. Our attorneys are trained to carefully review and, if necessary, seek expert medical opinions to the extent that it is critical in determining a person’s testamentary capacity and susceptibility to be unduly influenced by fraudulent intentions on their incapacity. This applies in will and trust contests, a guardianship contest, and turnover proceedings to reclaim improperly taken assets, or to confirm propriety or legally gifted assets.
We also have many years of experience in all aspects of complex estate tax, estate income tax, and gift tax and generation-skipping tax areas of law that are usually interdependent upon each other.
Estate And Trust Planning Services
At Bashian P.C., we help you plan the distribution of your property to your spouse, children, grandchildren and other loved ones. You will have a team of experienced, detail-focused attorneys who will work to ensure that your assets are protected and your wishes are carried out in a manner detailed in your estate planning documents, and consistent with changes in current tax laws.
There are many simple and complex ways for both short-term and long-term planning to protect spouses. The children and the grandchildren can use a great number of particular conservative and creative techniques with a goal to keep the family’s assets protected, and the estate and income taxes as low as possible, while maintaining family harmony for generations. Every circumstance is different. There are special issues when there is a divorce and remarriage with children from a prior marriage and any new children born of the new marriage. We spend time at the outset to make sure we have all the details, so we can make recommendations for a personalized and practical plan that suits our client’s needs.
We take measures to avoid litigation by creating plans and documents to avoid potential issues. We are knowledgeable about asset protection and have the experience to use trusts and other tax and estate planning documents together for both domestic and offshore trusts, and to shelter your assets. We also have experience in creating Dynasty Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, Private Foundations, Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts, Qualified Personal Residence Trusts, Supplemental Needs Trusts, Qualified Terminable Interest Property Trusts, and the use of discounting in making gifts. We regularly assist clients in the use of Life Insurance Trusts for one, two or both spouses and even children — whereby trusts can be an effective way to protect them for short- and long-term liquidity and as a means to reduce estate and inheritance taxes.
Contact Our Law Firm To Learn More
To schedule an initial consultation with one of our lawyers, call (914) 290-4550 or email Bashian P.C. for qualified, experienced counsel and representation.