Introduction: I have wanted to be a lawyer all of my life. The allure was that the practice of law combined several occupations, all of which appealed to me, both as a child and as an adult. Counselor, quasi-minister, skilled technician who could improve some aspect of anothers life, gunslinger defending others in some fashion. Originally I was a trial lawyer ( I suppose that gunslinger image stuck with me for quite awhile). Over time I came to conclude that a counseling practice better suited my personality, once I had grown up.
Regardless of area of practice, however, my image of a lawyer always embodied the concept of a trusted family advisor, the person to whom a family could resort when they needed sage advice on any number of issues that from time to time confront a family.
As I shifted the focus of my practice from that of litigation to counseling, I gravitated to the practice of estate planning and administration. I liked that image of trusted family advisor and concluded that estate planning law would best enable me to help people in an area of substantial personal need, protecting their children and loved ones in trying circumstances and preserving family wealth (be it large or small in amount) for their benefit.
As I learned the technical requirements of this area of law, I also learned the business of estate planning. Unfortunately, I didnt like the business model I found because it seemed to negate the very aspects of the practice that drew me to it. Far too many estate planning attorneys treated their practices as document mills; fitting people into preconceived forms that, through the magic of computerization, could be pumped out quickly , with little thought at great profit to the attorney.
I decided, however, that an estate planning practice could fulfill my desired goals and still be a business that would support my family.
The key to success is staying true to the goal.
So, if you seek a trusted advisor, well skilled in his craft, who can provide you with peace of mind know that your advisor will be there:
to listen to your particular family situation, hear your concerns understand your desires for your family members over time; to develop a plan to best protect your assets, income and loved ones from the particular challenges confronting you and your family;
As part of the estate planning process, often it happens that an agreement between those about to be married is often required in order to protect each partner's assets and income in the event of death, disability or divorce. This is particularly the case when divorcees seek to marry again. In such circumstances it is not unusual to draft a prenuptial agreement to establish each persons rights and obligations in such circumstances and then incorporate the terms of such agreement in appropriate estate planning documents.
Unfortunately, not every marriage results in lives lived happily ever after.
In such circumstances my office can provide representation to, as amicably as possible, resolve the issues that commonly arise in divorce. In those rare circumstances where an agreement cannot be reached I can provide skilled representation in Family Court to assure a fair result, including the most important aspect of many such engagements, assuring the role of each parent in the raising of children, post divorce.
The ability to really help people in meaningful ways; both financially and psychologically and more.
Estate planning is more than simply numbers on a page. It is accomplishing the final step in your life's work; planning for the protection of the ones you love most taking into considerations strengths and weaknesses and special needs.
