Estates & Trusts

Leech Tishman’s Estates & Trusts Practice Group is engaged in the development of practical, effective estate planning and business succession planning for individuals, families, businesses, non-profit organizations, and private foundations.

With rigorous attention to detail, our seasoned team of estate planning lawyers utilizes nearly 50 years of combined experience in estate law and trust planning, estate administration, tax matters, and knowledge of cutting-edge estate planning strategies to formulate an estate plan with the highest level of asset protection.

Leech Tishman’s Estates & Trusts Practice Group works closely with the firm’s Taxation Practice Group to navigate complicated laws and tax codes to provide you with a comprehensive solution that ensures the appropriate disposition of your assets.

Our firm is well-respected for our experience in handling estate planning and administration issues for high-net-worth individuals and closely-held businesses. We have experience with the many corporate and operational business transaction issues involved with the transfer of closely-held businesses. In addition, we are regularly approached by nonprofit organizations and private foundations to advise them on the unique issues and benefits involved with the establishment of lifetime gifting programs.

Services

Our Estates & Trusts Practice Group has experience in the following areas:

Will Planning and Administration

Simple and Complex Wills
Durable Power of Attorney
Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney, also known as a Living Will

Sophisticated Estate Planning and Administration

Complex Estate Administration Cases
Estate Tax Returns
Local and Multi-State Estate Planning

Trust Preparations, Planning and Administration

Our Estates & Trusts Attorneys have experience with the development and administration of:

Living Trusts
Testamentary Trusts
Irrevocable Trusts
Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
Grantor Trusts
Dynasty Trusts
Special Needs Trusts
Charitable Trusts

Business Succession Planning

Limited Liability Partnerships / Family Limited Partnerships
Limited Liability Companies
Captive Insurance Companies
General Business Succession Counseling

Lifetime Gifting Programs / Charitable Gift Planning

Gift Tax Returns
Charitable Remainder Trust
Charitable Lead Trusts
Private Foundations

Estate Litigation

Will Contests
Personal Property Disputes
Real Estate Disputes
Inheritance Disputes
Surcharge Fee Litigation
Trustee Removal

Complex Tax Issues

IRS Disputes
Federal Tax Audits
State Estate Tax Audits
Inheritance Tax Audits
Federal Gift Tax Return Audits

Capabilities

Services

Melanie E. Cuddyre

Sara A. Mercer

Stefanie L. Pate

Audra E. Phibbs

Matthew Rak

Heather C. Stumpf

Ted Tishman

Wesley Yang

Services

Melanie E. Cuddyre

Sara A. Mercer

Stefanie L. Pate

Audra E. Phibbs

Matthew Rak

Heather C. Stumpf

Ted Tishman

Wesley Yang

IRS Increases Estate and Gift Tax Exclusion for 2021: What That Means for Your Estate Plan

Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts: Not So GRAT Potential Tax Law Changes and Year-End Considerations

Leech Tishman Welcomes Ashley N. Crane and Audra E. Phibbs to the Firm

Leech Tishman Welcomes Sara A. Mercer

Estate Planning Opportunities with “20/20 Vision”: The Impact of Recent Legislation and the Federal Election on Existing Estate Plans

Leech Tishman Partner David J. DelFiandra Published in Washington County Community Foundation Planning Matters eNewsletter

So, Your Child Turned 18 – What Do You Need To Do?

Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act Signed Into Law

Leech Tishman Welcomes Heather C. Stumpf

Remote Notarization Temporarily Authorized in Pennsylvania Beginning April 20, 2020

Charitable Deduction Limits Increased for 2020 Tax Year; New Above-the-Line Deduction for Gifts Permitted

Remote Estate Planning and Notarization: Updated

Probate: Pennsylvania