Estate Planning

Estate Conservation and Planning

Without careful planning, the estate you’ve spent a lifetime building can be significantly reduced by taxes, probate fees, and unintended distributions. At the Law Offices of Oliver Greenwood, we help clients conserve what they’ve built and ensure that their wishes are honored.

Whether your estate is modest or substantial, making informed and strategic decisions now will protect your legacy and simplify matters for your loved ones later.

What is an Estate?

Your estate includes everything you own—real estate, financial accounts, retirement assets, personal belongings, and business interests. Estate planning is the process of managing and distributing those assets during your life and after your death.

Core Estate Planning Documents

We guide clients through the creation and implementation of:

• Revocable Living Trusts – Avoid probate, maintain control, and designate clear distribution wishes.
   
• Wills – A legal roadmap for your final wishes.
   
• Durable Powers of Attorney – Designate someone to manage financial matters if you become incapacitated.
   
• Advance Health Care Directives – Appoint an agent to make medical decisions and outline your care preferences.
   
• Special Needs Trusts – Preserve public benefits and ensure long-term care for disabled beneficiaries.
   

We also assist with Trust Amendments, Restatements, and property title reviews to ensure your estate plan remains current.

Why You Shouldn’t Leave Things to Chance

Dying without a will or trust—known as dying “intestate”—means the state decides who inherits your property, who raises your children, and how your estate is settled. This often leads to:

• Higher legal and court fees
   
• Delays and family disputes
   
• Loss of control over distribution
   

An estate plan puts those decisions in your hands.

Advanced Trust and Tax Planning Strategies

For clients with tax-sensitive estates or unique family structures, we provide:

• A-B and A-B-C Trusts – Estate tax-saving structures for married couples
   
• Irrevocable Trusts – Gift or remove assets from your taxable estate
   
• Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) – Exclude life insurance proceeds from estate tax
   
• Charitable Trusts – Provide for causes you care about while reducing tax exposure
   

Choosing Fiduciaries: Executor & Trustee

The people you appoint to carry out your wishes matter. We help you think through the roles of:

• Executor – Administers your will through probate
   
• Trustee/Successor Trustee – Manages and distributes assets in a trust, including during incapacity
   

We’ll help you decide between trusted individuals, professional fiduciaries, or corporate trustees depending on your needs.

Let's Talk About Your Future

We believe in clear explanations, thoughtful planning, and documents that reflect your values and goals. Whether you're just beginning or ready to update an outdated plan, we’re here to help.