IRWIN & SHERMAN’s estate planning practice focuses on estates of all sizes. We take time to educate each client, explain the available alternatives in light of their needs and objectives, and make recommendations. We provide the client with a written diagram outlining how their estate plan will operate. Our services include:

• Revocable Living Trusts (joint and one person)
• Wills and Codicils
• Financial Powers of Attorney
• Health Care Powers of Attorney
• Advance Directives (Living Wills)
• Charitable Remainder Trusts
• Charitable Lead Trusts
• Irrevocable Trusts (e.g. Insurance Trusts)
• Children and Grandchildren Trusts
• Qualified Personal Residence Trusts
• Prenuptial and Post Marital Agreements
• Intra-Family Transfers of Stock or Assets to facilitate tax efficient transfers to the next generation
• Gift Planning
• Asset Protection Planning
• Special Needs Trusts

Selecting the proper entity for any business venture is critical. Our firm can assist you in the planning and formation of General Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies (LLC), or S Corporations. Depending on each client’s individual facts and circumstances, a “flow-through entity” may be the proper type of entity.

Our firm has formed hundreds of Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies, Limited Partnerships, and S Corporations. Limited Liability Companies are popular forms of entities that combine the limited liability protection of a corporation and, at the same time, have the tax advantages of a partnership. Most states even allow single member LLC’s. Our services include:

• General Partnerships
• Family Limited Partnerships
• Limited Liability Companies
• S Corporations
• C Corporations

Running a business means making certain that all of the legal aspects of the business are updated and in proper legal form. Our firm prepares all types of business contracts and agreements, with the focus on the proper documentation for the particular need. Our services include:

• Employment Agreements
• Independent Contractor Agreements
• Lease Agreements
• Promissory Notes and Contracts for Sale
• Confidentiality Agreements
• Buy-Sell Agreements

The Firm is experienced in both the probate of assets upon the death of the individual, and the administration of Revocable Living Trusts upon the death of each spouse and/or the sole Settlor of the trust.

Further, considerable planning can be accomplished to reduce or eliminate estate taxes through trust administration after the first spouse’s death. The law firm of IRWIN & SHERMAN, P.C. has substantial experience in this area and, by implementing estate and gift tax valuation strategies and sub-trust funding strategies, significantly more assets can be passed to the ultimate beneficiaries of the trust. Our services include:

• Trust post-death legal, tax and transfer advice
• Trust post-death documentation
• Preparation of Estate and Gift Tax returns
• Probate of estates

The Firm (through its attorneys) also acts as Trustee over Irrevocable Trusts, Charitable Trusts, and as Successor Trustee of Revocable Living Trusts. Trust Administration involves the total oversight of Trust assets, including investment of assets (through investment advisors), distributions to beneficiaries, and completion of necessary tax returns.