Preserving Wealth, Honoring Values
Trust Structures Designed for Your Family’s Future
We help people in solving legal issues
We design trust structures that balance wealth preservation with your family values. Our planning considers how inheritance can positively shape future generations while providing appropriate financial protection. We work with you to establish reasonable parameters around wealth transfer that reflect your priorities—whether encouraging self-reliance, supporting education, or promoting thoughtful financial decision-making within your family.
Trust and Estate Administration
MARSHALL LAW OFFICES Ltd. represents and advises executors, administrators and trustees in the administration of trusts and estates. We offer professional trust administration services for all types of trusts to individual trustees to ensure proper management of the trust and to minimize the liability of the trustee. Our services include financial recordkeeping, preparation of accountings and federal and state fiduciary income tax returns. Our experienced professionals work closely with you through the entire probate and estate settlement process. We perform all estate administration services, from the appointment of the executor or administrator to completion of all necessary tax filings and coordination of the final distribution of assets to the appropriate beneficiaries. When clients require professional trust administration, Jason occasionally serves as executor and trustee, applying the same careful approach he brings to all client matters.
Estate and Tax Planning
MARSHALL LAW OFFICES Ltd. develops and executes sophisticated estate plans tailored to meet your specific goals. The firm is highly skilled in the creation of wills and trusts, and in all aspects of income, gift and estate tax planning. The firm’s legal professionals provide careful guidance through many complex legal and financial issues and structure plans that create a clear path to carry out your vision for the future.
Charitable Planning
Helping the charitable causes you care about can be an important part of your legacy. MARSHALL LAW OFFICES Ltd. has the tools to assist you in achieving your charitable goals while integrating tax saving charitable planning techniques into your estate plans using entities such as charitable trusts and private foundations.
Business Succession Planning
For many business owners, succession planning can be a complicated and even a delicate task, particularly in light of the emotional issues and family dynamics that are often involved. MARSHALL LAW OFFICES Ltd. has the experience and skills to guide you, your family and/or your colleagues through the process of transitioning business ownership and responsibility in a prudent manner. As an integral part of the process, we develop effective strategies to address future or current tax liabilities related to ownership changes.
How It Works
Our streamlined process is designed to provide clarity and confidence at every step. From the initial inquiry to final implementation, we guide you with clear communication and tailored solutions to meet your unique needs.
Inquiry & Information
We begin by exchanging key information to understand your situation and determine if we're the right fit for your needs. During this phase, we provide insights about our approach while learning about your goals and circumstances, ensuring a productive relationship from the start.
Consultation & Recommendation
After establishing potential fit, we meet to discuss your specific objectives and concerns in detail. We explore appropriate strategies and develop a tailored approach to address your unique needs. This collaborative discussion concludes with a clear path forward and formal engagement.
Design & Implementation
We draft comprehensive planning documents based on our agreed strategy, then guide you through a thorough review process. Once you're confident in your plan, we finalize all necessary documentation and assist with proper execution, funding, and implementation to bring your estate plan to life.
FAQs
What is a trust structure and why might I need one? A trust structure is a legal arrangement that allows a third party (trustee) to hold and manage assets on behalf of beneficiaries according to specific terms. You might need one to protect assets, minimize taxes, avoid probate, provide for family members with special needs, or ensure your wealth is distributed according to your wishes.
How is a trust different from a will? While both are estate planning tools, trusts offer immediate asset protection and can operate during your lifetime. Trusts avoid probate, potentially offer tax advantages, and provide greater privacy and control over how and when your assets are distributed. Wills only take effect after death and go through public probate proceedings.
When is the right time to establish a trust? The ideal time to establish a trust is when you have accumulated significant assets, have specific wishes for how your wealth should benefit your family, or want to protect your assets from potential future risks. It’s never too early to begin planning, especially if you have young children or a growing estate.
How can a trust reflect my family’s values? We design trusts with provisions that align with your priorities—whether encouraging education by establishing funds for college, promoting charitable giving, incentivizing entrepreneurship, or supporting family members in ways that encourage self-sufficiency rather than dependency.
Can I create guidelines for how beneficiaries use inherited wealth? Yes. We can incorporate incentive provisions that encourage certain behaviors or achievements, establish age-based or milestone-based distributions, or create specific funds for education, home purchases, or business ventures while discouraging other uses.
How do I balance protecting my children financially while encouraging them to be self-reliant? We help clients establish trusts that provide meaningful financial security while incorporating structures that encourage personal responsibility. This might include matching funds for earned income, staged distributions at various life milestones, or education and business startup funds rather than unrestricted access.
Who should serve as my trustee? The ideal trustee has financial acumen, understands your values and wishes, and can navigate family dynamics impartially. This might be a family member, trusted advisor, professional trustee, or a combination working together. We help you evaluate the best options for your situation.
What ongoing maintenance does a trust require? Trusts require proper funding (transferring assets into the trust), regular reviews to ensure they remain aligned with current laws and your objectives, and proper administration by the trustee. We provide guidance on establishing regular review schedules and proper administration procedures.
How flexible are trusts if my circumstances or wishes change? Depending on the type of trust established, there may be varying degrees of flexibility. We can incorporate provisions that allow for adaptability while maintaining the core benefits of your trust structure. Revocable trusts offer maximum flexibility during your lifetime, while even irrevocable trusts can include provisions allowing for certain changes.
What information should I prepare before our first consultation? Before our initial meeting, consider your financial goals, family circumstances, and values you wish to preserve. Bring information about your assets, existing estate documents, and thoughts about who you’d like to name as trustees or beneficiaries. Most importantly, reflect on what “success” looks like for your family’s financial future.
How long does the trust planning process typically take? The process varies depending on the complexity of your estate and objectives, but typically ranges from several weeks to a few months. After our initial consultation, we’ll provide a customized timeline for designing, reviewing, and implementing your trust structure.
How do you charge for your trust planning services? We offer transparent fee structures that reflect the complexity and scope of your planning needs. During our initial consultation, we’ll discuss our fee arrangements in detail so you can make an informed decision about moving forward.