Estate Planning, Administration and Asset Protection
Berry Moorman's Michigan estate planning attorneys provide a full range of estate planning services to accomplish our clients' wishes, protect their family and minimize tax consequences. Our services include the preparation of wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, generation-skipping trusts (dynasty trusts) and charitable trusts as well as advice on charitable and family gifting and custom-design programs for the transfer and protection of assets. Estate plans are designed to fit the specific circumstances of each client, including protecting retirement plan assets and planning for the transition of closely held businesses to the next generation. We design plans that are flexible to meet changing circumstances and to assure security to the clients and their loved ones. The personal and family objectives of the client are the keystone of our estate planning services. Our approach is best described as "creative but conservative."
Occasionally a client may be concerned about future risk or liability. In this circumstance, a client's business and personal affairs can be arranged so as to provide increased protection from potential threats. Future concerns could include claims made by third-party creditors or regulatory claims, for example, by reason of environmental contamination. Sometimes protection can be achieved through routine estate planning principals. We have also established "off shore" asset protection trusts for our clients and successfully defended the trust assets from these types of claims.
Our Ann Arbor, Birmingham, and Detroit estate planning attorneys take pride in our long tradition of a strong and active practice in the areas of probate and trust administration. Our ability to carry out the wishes of decedents and trust grantors, together with our sensitivity to the needs of heirs and beneficiaries, has provided reassurance to several generations of our clients and their families.
Our estate planning services include:
- Wills
- Trusts
- Durable Powers of Attorney
- Patient Advocate Designations
- Living Wills
- Tax Planning
- Medicaid Planning
- Charitable Giving
- Probate Avoidance
- Dynasty Trusts
- Closely Held Business Planning
- Trust Funding
- Asset Protection
- IRAs including Payments to Trusts
Related Publications
2008 Recovery Act: Required Minimum Distributions Suspended and Changes to Rollover Rules by Richard R. Zmijewski (January, 2009)
Recent Bailout Extends Tax Breaks when using your IRA for Charitable Contributions by Louise L. Labadie (November, 2008)
Post 9/11 Asset Protection Planning by Randolph M. Wright (September, 2008)
Is It Time To Update Your Estate Plan? by Dennis M. Mitzel (May, 2007)
Generation Skipping Transfer Tax: Some Basic Questions Answered by Patrice M. Ticknor (May, 2007)
Giving Gifts to Individuals: Some Basic Questions Answered by Patrice M. Ticknor (October, 2006)
Estate Planning for Vacation Property by Patrice M. Ticknor (May, 2006)
Funding of Trusts Critical to Use New Higher Estate Tax Limits by Dennis M. Mitzel (May, 2005)
Ensuring That Your Wishes Regarding Your Medical Care Will be Followed by Patrice M. Ticknor (May, 2005)
