PRACTICE AREAS
ESTATE PLANNING
Our offices provide a full range of estate planning services including wills, revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, marital deduction/credit shelter trusts, special needs trusts, retirement trusts, powers of attorney for health care, powers of attorney for property, living wills, business succession planning and more.
We believe that every person's circumstances are unique and deserving of special attention in formulating the estate plan. Our philosophy is simple - there is no "One Size Fits All" estate plan, and each estate plan should be custom tailored to your own needs and desires. With this philosophy, every one of our clients receive the individual attention he or she deserves and the estate plan that fits them.
WILLS, TRUSTS, & POWERS OF ATTORNEY
COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL
REAL ESTATE
Our offices provide a wide variety of real estate related services including representation in leases, purchases, sales, and real estate development. We provide representation in both residential transactions and commercial transactions. Having proper legal representation in these situations is the only way to make sure your legal rights are protected.
A purchase or real estate is often one of the most significant financial transactions of your lifetime. We understand this and will do our utmost to insure that it is also one in which you have proper legal representation, and you deserve nothing less.
TAXES
Our offices provide a full range of tax services including return preparation, consultation and tax planning for estate, gift and income taxes.
We also represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service, state tax authorities, and in the United States Tax Court.
The tax laws can be quite complex and change often, but proper advice and assistance can guide you through the maze in a manner that keeps you out of trouble while paying the lowest amount of tax allowable under the law.
ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
PROBATE & TRUST ADMINISTRATION
Our offices provide a full range of services that are necessary for the administration of trusts and probate estates.
Our services include appearing in court; meeting with beneficiaries; payment of legitimate claims; consultation, advice, and assistance regarding asset dispositions; estate and income tax planning and compliance; resolving disputes that arise during administration, and preparing and making the final distributions necessary to close trust and probate estates.
By working closely with the executor or trustee, we provide the advice and services necessary to insure that your trust or probate estate is handled in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible.
BUSINESS LAW
Our offices provide a wide variety of business related services, including the formation and continuing representation of corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and other business organizations.
Our services include business sales, mergers and acquisitions, compliance, buy-sell agreements, employment agreements, and other contractual matters that may arise in the due course of business.
We believe that proper planning is a vital component in making your business successful, and we value the opportunity to be a part of your team.
GOVERNMENT
Our offices provide years of experience in general and specialized representation for numerous forms of local government, including townships, road districts, fire districts, and municipalities. This representation includes ordinance drafting, property acquisition and sales, policy development and implementation, and statutory compliance.
When necessary, our offices also provide considerable experience in all areas of litigation for local governments. Our experience in governmental law allows us an opportunity to help individuals and businesses work with public bodies as well, such as zoning requirements or contract negotiations.
LITIGATION
Business, Commercial, and General
Our offices provide experience in all phases of litigation and dispute resolution (mediation/arbitration).
We understand litigation can involve complex legal and emotional issues. Our team will work with you to create an appropriate litigation strategy, always mindful of the cost of providing legal services.
AGRICULTURE
Our offices provide a focus on those committed to agriculture. Our attorneys bring years of experience in real estate purchases, leases, corporate formation and formalities, zoning, and other related issues that can influence the family farm to the largest agricultural company. In fact, we take great pride that one of our attorneys is the fourth generation owner and operator of his family farm.
With an ever-increasing set of rules, regulations and technological advances influence the farming world, our offices are ready to assist with any aspect of legal work related to your farming operations, expansion, contractual relationships with third parties, and other legal issues that may arise.