Estate & Trust Law

Family Trusts

A family trust can serve as a vehicle for wealth succession, tax planning, asset protection, charitable giving, or a combination of these and other objectives. Our team delivers customized solutions to help clients identify and achieve their goals.

We are ready to listen and fully understand your needs. Whether you are looking for advice and assistance in setting up a trust, managing an existing trust, or winding up a trust that is no longer serving a purpose, our team can help navigate the trust and tax law considerations to enable you to identify and implement a plan that is appropriate for your family's circumstances.

We have experience in:

  • Drafting testamentary and inter vivos trusts
  • Advising on trust objectives, which may include:
    • Providing financial support to enable loved ones to pursue their personal goals
    • Addressing particular family needs, such as providing for beneficiaries with disabilities or protecting against family law claims, or other areas of concern
    • Planning for business succession
    • Creating tax planning opportunities
    • Preserving assets and protecting against creditor claims
    • Supporting personal values and charitable interests
  • Assisting trustees with all aspects of trust administration
  • Amending trust deeds
  • Advising on taxation of trusts
  • Planning for a trust’s 21st anniversary and other taxable events

Clients:

  • High-net-worth individuals, couples, and families
  • Owner-managers of businesses
  • Trustees
  • Beneficiaries
Key Contact

Katherine L. Ratcliffe

Partner
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