Estate Planning and Administration Practice: Asset Protection Planning

Estate Planning & Administration

Estate Planning Practice Areas

Asset Protection Planning
Charitable Giving
Coordination with Financial Advisers
Disability Planning
Estate Planning
Fiduciary Administration

Asset Protection Planning

In recent years, American courts have accepted ever-expanding theories for imposing liability. This risk is especially acute for business owners and professionals for whom insurance coverage often is unavailable or inadequate. Moreover, a victory on the merits after a long and bitter court battle will be a hollow one if it leaves the client financially and emotionally drained. ZS&R attorneys assist their clients to evaluate their level of risk and degree of financial exposure and to implement appropriate and lawful mechanisms to provide security against the loss of wealth from future large and unexpected liability claims.

Charitable Giving

ZS&R provides its clients comprehensive services in planning and implementing gifts to charity. These services range from a simple lifetime charitable gift or bequest in a will, through the creation and administration of a charitable remainder trust during the client's lifetime all the way to the creation and operation of a new charitable organization to implement a client's charitable program during lifetime and following death. Again, tax considerations typically are paramount, so ZS&R draws on the skills of attorneys from its tax group who have extensive experience in planning charitable transfers, establishing and administering charitable trusts and nonprofit corporations and securing their recognition as tax exempt entities. To reflect its long-standing and deep commitment to support charitable institutions, ZS&R provides a fee discount to clients who make substantial provision for charity in planning the management and disposition of their wealth.

Coordination with Financial Advisers

In assisting clients to plan for the preservation, management and transmission of their wealth, ZS&R attorneys work closely with clients' financial advisors, such as accountants, trust officers, brokers, investment advisers, insurance agents and pension consultants. In addition, ZS&R attorneys deal regularly with a number of financial professionals with whom they can consult on behalf of clients when necessary.