Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts & Estates
North Carolina Estate Planning AttorneysPlanning for the time of your passing can seem a daunting and somewhat disheartening task. However, careful estate planning can allow you to provide for your loved ones long into the future. At Rountree, Losee & Baldwin L.L.P., we understand the desire to preserve a legacy for future generations. We have served Wilmington, North Carolina, and the surrounding community for over 110 years — more than three generations of attorneys providing professional, effective legal representation Our estate planning and administration practice reflects our values of family and tradition. Contact us to find out how we can help devise a wealth strategy or preservation strategy to meet your objectives. At our firm, we assist individuals and their families with personal estate planning and business owners with succession planning. Our capable attorneys also provide counsel to individuals and institutions in their capacity as fiduciaries including guardians, attorneys-in-fact, executors, administrators and trustees. Following an initial consultation with each client, we design estate and business plans to ensure the appropriate disposition of our client's assets based on the client's goals and objectives. We also meet with clients early in the administration stage of the estate administration or probate process to develop a plan to efficiently and cost-effectively assist our clients with the administration of a decedent's estate. Today's Planning for Tomorrow's Peace of MindAt Rountree, Losee & Baldwin L.L.P., our aim is to help you determine goals and plans for the future. Whether you want to create a new will or are altering the terms of an existing will, our lawyers can give you legal advice geared toward ensuring that your wishes are carried out. If you are concerned about family members making critical medical and financial decisions on your behalf, we can help with powers of attorney or a living will. Our estate planning practice is comprehensive. Beyond creating wills, we provide exemplary service in establishing various trusts and exploring charitable giving options. We work with you to analyze tax implications with the goal of maximizing distributable assets by minimizing taxes and probate costs. In drafting an estate or business plan for a client, we give particular attention to reducing estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes and provide assistance with lifetime gifting plans including the transition of assets to subsequent generations, transition of family-owned businesses and charitable giving through the use of trusts and private foundations. Due to increased healthcare costs, we also address planning for disability and incapacity through the use of power of attorney documents, living wills and special needs trusts to address planning for governmental benefit eligibility. Guidance Through Estate Administration and ProbateLosing a loved one imposes a great emotional toll on a family. Facing the administration of a loved one's estate and the probate process can push stress toward the breaking point. We work closely with families to carefully guide them through the legal necessities while striving to avoid or settle disputes amicably and promptly. We assist executors and administrators of decedent's estates in carrying out their legal duties and responsibilities. Our services include preparing and filing all documents necessary to commence, administer and close estate proceedings; ascertaining and paying valid estate debts; collecting and distributing estate assets to the appropriate beneficiaries; and addressing any estate or individual income tax issues that arise during the administration of an estate including the preparation and filing of death and fiduciary income tax returns. We also represent both individual and corporate clients in will caveats and other disputes that arise in the administration of trusts and estates. Our estate attorney works closely with other attorneys in the firm; drawing on the experience of those attorneys in the areas of:
Contact Rountree, Losee & Baldwin L.L.P. to discuss how we may be of assistance during this difficult time. |
