Representation of Executors and Trustees in Estate Litigation

You agreed to serve as executor – Culhane Meadows attorneys can help you handle the responsibility with confidence.

Culhane Meadows attorneys regularly represent Executors and Trustees in a wide variety of matters, including:

  • Settling of decedents’ estates,
  • Administration of long-term trusts,
  • Estate and inheritance tax compliance,
  • Fiduciary litigation, and
  • IRS Estate and gift tax audits and controversies.

 

Most commonly, we guide executors through the process of settling a decedent’s estate, with careful attention to opportunities to minimize related taxes.  Our services encompass probating wills, helping clients understand their legal duties, preparing the necessary estate and inheritance tax filings, aiding in asset transfers and ensuring that all matters have been properly handled before an estate is closed.

Every estate is unique, and it is a rare estate that holds no surprises.  Our clients appreciate our ability to share the burden, relieve them of many of the frustrations of asset transfers, and help them find solutions to issues that preserve family relationships.  Culhane Meadows attorneys are sensitive to the emotion that usually accompanies the estate settlement process and attempt to proactively and compassionately deal with the conflicts and disappointments a decedent’s estate plan may present.

Our clients include executors of both large and more modest estates, and Culhane Meadows attorneys handle the full range of issues, from basic to complex.   The fiduciary duty of an executor or trustee to be fair to beneficiaries with conflicting interests can be difficult to implement, and litigation can sometimes occur.  There can also be litigation brought against an estate relating to a decedent’s business dealings.  In either case, Culhane Meadows litigation partners are available to help.

Tax audits and controversies will also arise in various estates, especially those that include closely-held business interests or difficult to value assets.  When an audit cannot be satisfactorily settled, Culhane Meadows tax partners are ready to handle the controversy to follow.


*Culhane Meadows is ranked by U.S. News/Best Law Firms in Technology Law, Bankruptcy/Reorganization Law, and Information Technology Law. This website and the communications herein may be considered attorney advertising. Previous results are not a guarantee of future outcome. This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information herein is not intended to create an attorney-client or similar relationship. Until you establish such a relationship and receive an engagement letter, you have not hired a Culhane Meadows attorney nor become a client of the firm. Whether you are a new or existing client of the firm, Culhane Meadows must determine that there is no conflict of interest and that it is willing and otherwise able to accept the new engagement before representing you on a new matter. Only if and after Culhane Meadows has informed you it is willing and able to accept your new matter should you send the firm any information or documents that you consider private or confidential. Such information will not be treated as private, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure until Culhane Meadows has communicated in writing that it is willing and able to accept your new matter and provide you with legal counsel. Whether you need legal services and which lawyer or law firm you select are important decisions that should not be based on this website alone.

Accessibility Toolbar