Estate Planning & Administration

Effective estate planning can eliminate uncertainties for individuals, families and nonprofit organizations. Relying on a tradition of service combined with use of cutting-edge technology, Dickinson Wright assists our clients tax and estate planning, estate and trust administration and business succession planning.

Our approach is holistic: we analyze the needs and goals of our clients and assist them in selecting legally enforceable methods to retain, administer and transfer both their wealth and values. Our technology and experience enable us to efficiently and economically assist clients with a variety of needs and circumstances.

Some of the estate planning practice’s areas of expertise include:

• Wealth transfer planning, including a wide variety of trusts, wills, family business issues and disposition of property. 

• Planning for business ownership, success and transfer, including: choice of entity, buy-sell agreements, stock bonus and option agreements and tax-free distributions. 

• Personal finance and family needs, including: Powers of Attorney, medical directives, prenuptial/postnuptial agreements, divorce, post-judgment and custody and asset protection planning.

• Estate and trust administration, including: post-mortem tax advice to fiduciaries and beneficiaries; planning for tax-savings elections and credits and disclaimers. 

• Tax compliance, including: federal estate and state death tax returns; individual, trust and estate income tax returns; tax returns for families, closely-held businesses and tax-exempt organizations.