Collaborating
“I never did anything alone. Whatever was accomplished in this country was accomplished collectively.” – Golda Meir
THE CLIENT'S ADVISOR CIRCLE
A client’s objectives are best served when the estate planning connects with the other professionals who are in the client’s circle of advisors, who have a longstanding relationship with the family and its property. This would include other lawyers, accountants, insurance agents and investment advisors. These other advisors may have particular knowledge about the client’s assets and insights into the family’s relationships which would be important for drafting management efficiencies into the client’s legal estate planning documents. For example, the client’s accountant will have understanding of how the allocation of taxable income under the terms of the estate planning documents fits into the family’s overall income tax planning.
THE CLIENT'S PLANNING TEAM
Estate planning touches many related areas of legal practice.
The estate planning lawyer focuses on drafting the legal roadmap with two (2) objectives in mind:
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To get the client’s property where the client wants it to go, and to do what the client wants it to do.
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To provide for the life-care needs of the client and the client’s family.
Getting the client’s property properly integrated into the estate plan, other lawyers who focus on collateral practice areas may need to contribute to the process. For instance, this can be the case when complex mineral interests, foreign properties, intellectual property, partnership interests, and using legal entities to structure rights in estate property are involved in the client’s galaxy of assets. This would also be the case where litigation is involved with the client’s interests in the estate plan of another.
Heirline maintains strong collegial relationships with lawyers who focus their practices in these related areas. If the client does not already have an established professional relationship with a lawyer who is available to provide these services, we can recommend some excellent options for the client to consider.