Family Law

• Divorce
• Guardianship
  Like a will, a Living Trust is a legal document that provides for the management and distribution of your assets after you pass away. However, a Living Trust has certain advantages when compared to a will. A Living Trust allows for the immediate transfer of assets after death without court interference. It also allows for the management of your affairs in case of incapacity, without the need for a guardianship or conservatorship process. With a properly funded Living Trust, there is no need to undergo a potentially expensive and time consuming public probate process. In short, a well thought out estate plan using a Living Trust can provide your loved ones with the ability to administer your estate privately, with more flexibility and in an efficient and low-cost manner.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  We also consult with business owners and draft shareholder agreements or partnership agreements as part of the entity formation process.
• Mergers and Acquisitions
  Each state has its own corporate statutes that govern the procedure for mergers. Furthermore, state or federal agencies may wish to investigate the potential anticompetitive effects of a proposed merger. Because of the requirements and variables involved in merging, a corporation considering a merger should consult a lawyer who is experienced in mergers and acquisitions law.
• Business Formation
• Business Disputes
  Our firm advises and represents companies and entrepreneurs with a broad range of business related services.  We advise our clients on business law, start-up assistance relating to the formation of an entity and we assist with buying or selling a business.Â
• Business Transactions
• Limited Liability Companies

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  You've worked hard your whole life to provide for your family and make your loved ones more secure.  Without advanced estate planning strategies, much of the significant assets you have accumulated may end up with the IRS and state taxing authorities.
• Wills
  In order to contest a Will, one has to have legal “standing†to raise objections.  This usually occurs when, for example children are to receive disproportionate shares under the Will, or when distribution schemes change from a prior Will to a later Will.  In addition to disputes over the tangible distributions, Will contests can be a quarrel over the person designated to serve as Executor.
• Trusts
  Sometimes referred to simply as a Living Trust, an RLT holds legal title to your assets and provides a mechanism to manage them. You would serve as the trustee and beneficiary of your trust during your lifetime. You also designate successor trustee(s) to carry out your instructions for how you want your assets managed and distributed in case of death or incapacity.
• Power of Attorney
  There are generally two types of durable powers of attorney: a "present" durable power of attorney in which the power is immediately transferred to your attorney in fact; and a "springing" or future durable power of attorney that only comes into effect upon your subsequent disability as determined by your doctor. When you appoint another individual to make financial decisions on your behalf, that individual is called an "attorney in fact". Anyone can be designated, most commonly your spouse or domestic partner, a trusted family member, or friend. Appointing a power of attorney assures that your wishes are carried out exactly as you want them, allows you to decide who will make decisions for you, and is effective immediately upon subsequent disability.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Tax Law
  Sue Steveken practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, trust administration and business law. Sue has extensive experience in assisting individuals and families of all economic levels in their estate and business planning. Sue works with clients to achieve their goals through business succession planning; transferring wealth during life and at death; and estate and gift transfer tax planning. Sue also assists clients in the administration of trusts and estates by helping them through the probate and estate settlement process. Sue enjoys the compliance end of estate planning and estate settlement as well, which includes the preparation of estate, gift and fiduciary income tax returns.