Our Firm

Estate planning is the process of organizing your assets and determining how those assets will be distributed after your death. Assets include everything from real estate and bank accounts, to sentimental items like collectibles and jewelry. Collectively, a person’s assets make up his or her estate.

Wills and trusts are two common tools used to carry out your wishes. In these documents, you have the power to choose not only who will receive your assets, but who you would like to be in charge of the distribution of your estate. Estate planning also gives an opportunity for those with minor children to nominate a guardian (a caregiver) for children in the event that both parents pass unexpectedly.

Whether you have a lot or a little, a complicated life or simple, we are here to listen to what is important to you and to craft a plan that fits your goals and wishes. We take care of the formalities and make certain you – and you alone – are comfortable with your final decisions.

If a loved one of yours passes away, we also provide estate administration services and trust administration services. Whether a person dies with a will, trust, or no estate planning documents at all, our attorneys help you work through the proper steps to make the process as efficient, economical and painless as possible.

Paying for long term nursing home care is a reality that many older adults must face. Whether that long term care is at home or in a nursing facility, the costs of that care can be a tremendous strain on an individual, married couple or family. Medicaid may be an option for paying for long-term care, but it is important to understand that there are strict laws governing eligibility for Medicaid.

There are two general types of Medicaid planning: proactive planning and crisis planning. Proactive planning can work for people who are healthy now but want to prepare for the possibility that they will need long-term care in the future. Crisis planning may be used if individual has already entered a nursing home or will be going to a nursing home soon, but may have too many assets to qualify for Medicaid.

The rules governing Medicaid are complicated and constantly changing. Our attorneys can help you navigate the complicated rules for Medicaid eligibility and strategize the best plan to protect your assets whether it is a crisis planning or pro-active planning situation.

Disability planning goes hand-in-hand with estate planning. However, we think about it separately because disability planning documents help you during your life, rather than after. Disability planning involves signing documents that allow others to manage your affairs in case you become incapacitated or if you simply want to designate a trusted person to help now. Disability planning documents most often utilized by our clients are Durable General Powers of Attorney and Appointments of Health Care Representative. A Power of Attorney can be an excellent alternative to making a child or other relative a co-owner of your assets. The Appointment of Health Care Representative allows you to name a person to make medical decisions for you if you are unable. These are cost-efficient tools that can often make a guardianship through the court unnecessary.

If an individual does not have a power of attorney in place it may become necessary for a guardianship to be established through a court proceeding. The guardianship process involves filing a petition with a Court and asking a judge to determine whether the person is incapacitated. If a Court makes a determination of incapacity, most often a guardian is appointed to handle finances and make health care decisions. Once a person is appointed as guardian, they must periodically report to the court. Our firm provides assistance to the guardian from start to finish.

Families sometimes need help – especially when their decisions or actions fall into the court system. Family law can involve a lot of different issues such as adoption, divorce, child support establishment and enforcement, paternity, guardianship of minor children, and prenuptial agreements.

Our family law practice centers on prenuptial agreements (also sometimes called premarital agreements) and divorce.

Whether you are buying or selling a home or contemplating a real estate transaction, it is important to know your rights and have them explained to you.

We help with a broad range of issues in relation to property law that you may have never thought about before, such as easements, foreclosures, neighbor relations, property deeds, real estate warranties, mortgages, landlord/tenant matters, and issues related to buying and selling real estate. We also assist property owners with planning and zoning matters, such as petitioning for variances.

Starting or managing a business is difficult enough. Wading through the complexities of business entity formation documents or client contracts can be even more challenging without good legal advice.

We enjoy helping our business clients – especially small business owners – protect their assets, develop good contracts, and prepare succession plans. We not only represent you and your best interests when difficulties arise, we help you avoid them with experience-based planning at each step of the life of your business.

We have years of experience in providing counsel to local governments on issues, ranging from preparation of ordinances, resolutions, and contracts, to zoning and land use matters and municipal utilities.

Our clients have included towns, public libraries, conservancy districts and fire protection districts.