Whitman Breed and its predecessors have dealt creatively, pragmatically, and privately with wealth preservation, wealth transfer and tax planning, and estate and trust administration since the 19th Century.
Our approach to estate planning is client-driven. We consider each client’s relationships, businesses, tax concerns, assets and, most importantly, their goals. We use that information to formulate custom, effective, and holistic estate plans using a variety of structures, including traditional wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, specialized trusts, and family limited partnerships. This personalized approach distinguishes us from many firms, which offer standard-form, “off-the-shelf” estate plans.
Our trust and estate administration practice sensitively and effectively carries out the plans we structure. We provide individual and corporate executors and trustees a comprehensive array of legal services, including appointing fiduciaries, admitting wills, preparing accountings, resolving claims, and handling tax matters. Over our history, we have counseled fiduciaries administering some of the largest estates in Connecticut, and we bring that experience to bear on each engagement, whatever the size.
In both our planning and administration work, Whitman Breed’s trusts and estates team works hand-in-hand with the Firm’s tax, business law, litigation, and real estate departments to provide clients seamless solutions, including structuring business succession planning, handling tax disputes, selling estate assets, administering real estate, and bringing and defending claims. That comprehensive, collaborative approach cannot be matched by boutique firms that do not offer a full range of legal services.
Whitman Breed’s trusts and estates group also helps our clients pursue their philanthropic endeavors. We create and administer charitable foundations and charitable trusts and efficiently structure lifetime charitable giving. And we assist clients navigating the challenges of aging and family members with special needs, including guardianships, incapacity issues, Title XIX eligibility, and special needs planning.
