Modern estate and tax planning requires a thorough analysis of the client’s family circumstances, the nature and amount of the client’s assets and any expected inheritances, and the client’s wishes and concerns with respect to wealth transfer, both during life and after death. Potential estate-related tax liability must be calculated and appropriate planning options discussed with the client.  The estate plan is then carefully developed in order to assure wealth transfer according to the client’s wishes and minimize income, gift, and estate taxes.

Thompson & Pollock LLC offers a cutting-edge collaborative approach to the traditional Trust & Estate practice. Whether an estate is large and complex or more modest, we genuinely listen to our clients and work closely with them to develop long-term personal and family goals. The breadth of our experience and our creative approach enable us to provide our clients with practical and sensible solutions to the tax and non-tax issues confronting them.

Our attorneys understand that success in this area requires legal, tax, and business experience combined with the skills required to act as a trusted family advisor and counselor. This is the cutting-edge and collaborative perspective we offer to our clients. Included in the estate planning process are:

•	Design of the plan to carry out dispositive wishes while minimizing or eliminating gift and estate taxes, including generation-skipping (GST) transfer taxes.
•	Preparation of wills, codicils, revocable and irrevocable trust arrangements, durable powers of attorney, health care directives, pre-marital and domestic partnership agreements, animal trusts, and other documents in order to express and carry out the client’s intentions.
•	Recommendations for and preparation of tax-saving devices such as intra-family gift programs, Family Limited Partnerships, “IRA Stretch Trusts”, Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRTs), Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs), Dynasty Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts and Charitable Remainder Trusts, among others.
•	Drafting and reviewing partnership agreements and corporate operating agreements.
•	Establishing charitable foundations and non-profit organizations.
•	Preparing Private Letter Ruling requests.
•	Representing clients in tax litigation and audits.
•	Preparing gift tax returns and trust returns.