A Better Understanding



About Our Firm

Life's Big Events

ABOUT OUR FIRM
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What does Lavelle & Finn, LLP do?

You can rely on us for a specific array of services, including

  • Estate planning
  • Elder & Tax Law
  • Business Transactions
  • Trust & Estate Administration

  • Our ultimate goal is to deliver services that protect you, your family, your wealth and secure the future for you and your loved ones. From wills to trusts to advice on business formation and transactions, our team of dedicated professionals is capable of providing you with sound counsel and peace of mind at any stage of life.

    Why Lavelle & Finn, LLP?

    We know you do not want cut-and-dried legal advice; you want to work with professionals who are dedicated to providing individualized service and understand your personal and professional needs. You can count on Lavelle & Finn, LLP.

    And, best of all, we provide legal services at a reasonable cost.

    Lawyers can be expensive. How do I know I am getting my money’s worth at Lavelle & Finn, LLP?

    Come and meet with us. Our clients are regularly amazed at big picture savings we are able to show them. We are confident that you will feel you and your family are in the right hands. When you factor in the tax-savings alone, we like to think we never cost our clients anything.

    How much wealth do I have to have to benefit from meeting with Lavelle & Finn, LLP?

    People in all different circumstances have benefited from our services and expert counsel.

    For example, people of relatively modest means may have a house and some savings that they would like to protect in the event that nursing home or other long-term care is needed. We can show you options for protecting your assets and providing an inheritance to your family.

    Some other examples from our estate-planning practice:

    For young couples with children, protecting assets for the benefit of the children in case of a mutual disaster is extremely important.

    For people beginning to accumulate wealth, proper organization at an early age can delay and sometimes avoid future estate tax problems, and minimize income taxes along the way.

    For individuals and couples with more than $1 million in wealth, estate tax reduction and proper planning can reduce your family’s exposure to death taxes.

    Overall, the cost of these services is usually a very small portion of the savings and protection that the services can create for you and your family.


    LIFE'S BIG EVENTS

    I don’t have enough wealth to worry about taxes. Should I still do an estate plan?

    Taxes are only one risk factor in any estate plan. Equally important is how protected your wealth is for your surviving spouse and your other loved ones. Divorce, lawsuits, business failures, accidents, disability, or long-term care expenses can be just as devastating to a family and its assets. Everyone should do some basic estate planning and have key documents, including a will, power of attorney and health care proxy.

    Sound planning will help protect your family from the risk of future events. Death and taxes may be inevitable, but exposing your family’s wealth to all the world’s risks is just unnecessary. Call us today for a review of your existing plan or to get started on a plan that will help make sure your assets continue to provide for your family in the future.

    I have a family business that I’d like to start passing to my children, but I’m concerned about maintaining the business as our family’s principal source of income. What do I need to consider?

    There are many options to safely and effectively pass on the family business. Although no plan is foolproof, a good plan will have many protective devices built in to it. By choosing the right entity and transfer strategy, you can take most of the risk out of reducing your holdings in the family business. There are even ways to maintain your control of the business while decreasing the value of your holdings, effectively avoiding death taxes. Call us to review your options in removing or reducing a family business from death tax exposure while securing future income.

    How long after my estate planning documents have been executed should I review and update my estate plan?

    Just like your tax and financial planning, it is important to review your estate plan on a regular basis. That doesn’t mean that you need to update your documents every year, but you certainly should take a careful look at your personal and financial situation on an annual basis to determine whether updates are necessary. As a general rule, we suggest our clients review their personal situation and estate plan at least every couple of years. We also publish information about significant changes to laws that could affect your estate planning. Check our website often.

    Here is just a short list of examples that may necessitate changes to your estate planning documents:

    Changes in personal situations

  • The birth of a child or children
  • A death in the family
  • Divorce

  • Changes in financial circumstances

  • Material increase or decrease in net wealth
  • New or different income sources, including starting or growing a business or receiving an inheritance
  • Where should I keep my original documents?

    Your will does not need to be filed with a court prior to your death. Approximately 95% of our estate planning clients keep their original documents secured in the safes at our offices. You will also receive a bound copy of the documents for your reference.

    As a general rule, keeping original documents in a safe deposit box is not advisable, since that box may be sealed on your passing, to ensure the appropriate distribution of its contents.

    We generally advise against providing estate planning documents to family members, friends, or other acquaintances, except in the case of health care proxy forms, which should be provided to the appointed agents and health care providers.

    I have adult children from my previous marriage. What strategies can I use to ensure my current spouse and all of my children are all provided for in my estate plan?

    The composition of the American family has undergone significant changes since Lavelle & Finn opened our doors in 1991. It can be challenging to develop estate and business succession plans that contemplate multiple marriages, children from different relationships, same-sex marriages, and unmarried couples. However, by employing proper lifetime gifting, trusts, or counseling on appropriate agents and fiduciaries, we can help you achieve the outcome you want in your personal situation.