Wills, Trusts, Probate and Estate Planning

The Sanford Law Firm excels in estate planning, such as preparing wills and trusts, estate and trust administration, family business entities, and establishing nonprofit corporations, foundations and tax exempt organizations. In addition to working with individuals and families in general, our attorneys have experience in dealing with the particular concerns of physicians, executives, and the owners of businesses, farmland, and natural resources, such as oil and mineral rights. We help clients achieve their goals for the accumulation, preservation and transfer of wealth from the following legal and tax perspectives:

• Risk management and asset protection
• Business planning
• Life insurance planning
• Planning for disability and special needs
• Family legacy
• Philanthropy
• Retirement planning

Estate & Trust Administration.

Examples of services involving the administration of trusts and estates include:

• Estate litigation
• Guardianships
• Representation of fiduciaries
• Estate and gift tax compliance
• Will contests
• Trust litigation
• Probate proceedings

Family Businesses.

Representative areas concerning the formation, operation and disposition of a client's business interests include:

• Business exit strategies
• Family limited partnerships and LLCs
• Choice of entity
• Subchapter S corporations
• Business succession planning

Nonprofit Corporations & Foundations.

Representative matters concerning state law and federal tax law issues of nonprofit corporations and tax exempt organizations include:

• Family foundations and supporting organizations
• Legal compliance for nonprofit corporations
• Corporate governance issues
• IRS compliance for 501(c)(3) organizations
• Tax planning for philanthropy