Estates & Tax

Department Chair:  Alan S. Hollander

The Estates and Tax Department serves individuals and their families in matters of estate planning, estate & trust administration, charitable planned giving, legal issues facing elderly family members, lifetime tax planning, and litigation involving will contests and disputes arising out of the interpretation of wills and trusts and the administration of estates and trusts.

Our estate planning services include examination of potential Federal Estate and Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax consequences as revealed by a detailed projection of the client's estate and its distribution. We also counsel on issues affecting the aged and the infirm, including Living Wills and disability planning, and preparation of wills, trust agreements and powers of attorney necessary to meet planning objectives.

The members of the Estates and Tax Department work with members of other departments in the firm to counsel on corporate and personal tax issues. We are often called upon to provide advice for the orderly transfer of ownership of closely-held businesses and family enterprises in a manner designed to achieve tax savings. We advise clients concerning buy-sell agreements for partnerships and corporations. We also help to evaluate the need for life insurance to fund business buy-out agreements.

The Estate and Tax Department provides all services necessary to the administration of trusts and estates including the preparation of Federal Estate and Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax returns and Fiduciary Income Tax returns. Our services are available to personal representatives or beneficiaries who are involved in audits before the Internal Revenue Service or who become parties to court proceedings.