Expert Services

Estate planning and sophisticated tax planning efforts are critical components of the full range of services provided by The Law Offices of John A. Williams, PLLC. We focus on personal lifetime planning for individuals and their closely-held businesses. These planning efforts often involve the strategic use of trusts, gifts, intra-family sales and other tax efficient wealth-transfer devices.

We have the knowledge, experience and resources to assist our clients in implementing the most beneficial strategies available under current law. The laws governing estates and trusts have become increasing complex. One reason is recent, major changes in the estate tax laws which affect planning at both state and federal levels. More changes lie ahead. Now more than ever, an individualas estate plan must be carefully constructed to ensure that his or her wishes are fulfilled. The mission of our firm is to aptly assist our clients with the implementation of those desires in a tax efficient manner.

The firms comprehensive estate and tax planning services include:

1. Will planning and drafting, including determination of appropriate probate-avoidance measures.
2. Establishment and administration of a broad range of trusts, including revocable living trusts, charitable trusts, educational trusts, trusts for children and multi-generational dynasty trusts.
3. Advance planning for incapacity, including living wills, designations of healthcare surrogates, and durable powers of attorney for financial matters.
4. Implementation of tax efficient family wealth transfer and asset protection planning techniques.
5. Charitable giving, including lifetime gifts, bequests, charitable lead and remainder trusts and private foundations.
6. Life insurance planning, including irrevocable life insurance trusts.
7. Retirement planning, including lifetime distribution planning and advice on elections and disposition at death to maximize income tax benefits of IRA’s and other retirement accounts.
8. Counsel regarding closely-held businesses and their owners, including business entity selection, transition and succession planning, control, valuation and liquidity.
9. Establishment and maintenance of guardianships for minors and incompetent adults.
10. Estate and trust disputes and litigation.
11. Sophisticated tax planning within the lifetime construction of the estate plan and post-mortem estate and income tax planning.
12. Planning and counsel regarding Florida’s unique homestead laws and their impact on the estate plan.
    

Proper probate and/or trust administration ensures the optimal benefit of all lifetime planning efforts and the minimization of income, estate and generation-skipping taxes which may apply upon death. Although it’s often assumed that the tax and estate planning process ends at death, this is not the case. Numerous choices and elections must be considered and made as part of the estate and trust settlement effort; and these can have an enormous impact on the immediate and future tax obligations facing the estate and its beneficiaries. A great depth of knowledge and experience is needed to optimize these choices, thereby minimizing the federal and state income, estate and generation-skipping taxes that may otherwise be owed.

Strict compliance with the law’s requirements both within the context of probate and in death settlement of trusts is critical. The duties and liabilities of the acting fiduciaries, i.e., the personal representatives or the trustees, are significant. These rules exist to protect the interests of all of the beneficiaries, and even the potential creditors of an estate or trust. Failure to adhere to the law’s requirements can create legal liability for the fiduciary, and even cause irreparable family strife. The Law Offices of John A. Williams, PLLC is committed to the proper administration of estates and trusts on behalf of its clients and their intended beneficiaries.

At first glance, the eligibility requirements for attaining Florida Medicaid benefits for nursing home care may appear fairly uncomplicated. Unfortunately, meeting the necessary requirements regarding coverage for nursing home care can turn out to be quite complex, requiring the assistance of an experienced attorney. There are specific income and asset requirements you must meet, as well as certain medical need-based criteria.

For those individuals who require medical and/or nursing home treatment, Medicaid is a federal and state program which can significantly assist those who can show true need. Once qualified, a person may be eligible for the state of Florida to pay the difference between their monthly income and the monthly nursing home expenses.

The Law Offices of John A. Williams, PLLC represents the business interests of a broad and diverse clientele throughout all stages of the entrepreneurial growth cycle. The scope of available legal services performed by the firm includes counsel as to initial entity selection, the development and preparation of governing operating and employment agreements, financial and tax planning, and associated financing considerations. We represent parties in the purchase and sale of business assets and ownership interests, the merger and acquisition of commercial enterprises, recapitalization and restructuring of commercial indebtedness, and strategic dissolution and liquidation activities.