My legal services.
I understand the complexities of navigating legal matters. My commitment is to empower you with informed decisions through compassionate guidance in estate planning, guardianships and conservatorships, probates, fiduciary duties and responsibilities, and your rights as a beneficiary or heir.
My Areas of Practice
Estate Planning
Guardianships and Conservatorships
Guardian Ad Litem
Probate
Trust and Estate Administration
Beneficiary Representation
Estate Planning
When you’ve worked to build a life, assets and legacy, you want to make sure the pieces fall into place exactly how you intend — for your own peace of mind and for your loved ones. I assist with:
Comprehensive wills to clearly state your wishes and designate faithful guardians or fiduciaries.
Trusts (revocable, irrevocable, special needs) tailored to your family’s structure, wealth level and goals.
Powers of attorney (financial and health care) so someone you trust can act if you cannot.
Advanced health-care directives (“living wills”) to make your preferences known if you’re incapacitated.
Beneficiary designations and asset-transfer planning to minimize surprises and unintended tax/administrative burden.
Review and update of existing estate-planning documents to reflect life changes (marriage, divorce, new children, relocation, business changes) and changes in the law.
By crafting a customized plan now, I can help protect what you’ve built, preserve your values and ensure your wishes are honored long into the future.
Guardianships & Conservatorships
Life brings transitions — whether due to age, incapacity or special-needs situations — and when a loved one needs legal protection or someone to manage their affairs, the process can feel daunting. I guide families through:
Establishing guardianships for minors or incapacitated adults who cannot make personal decisions on their own.
Conservatorships for managing an individual’s financial affairs and their property when they cannot do so themselves.
Petitions, court hearings, notices, evaluations and all of the procedural requirements so the legal process is handled precisely and sensitively.
Ongoing monitoring, reporting and assistance with compliance for guardians or conservators as needed.
I understand how emotionally charged these situations are — my approach is informed by empathy, clarity and genuine care for your family’s dignity and well-being.
Guardian Ad Litem
In a Guardianship and Conservatorship proceeding, the court will appoint a Guardian ad Litem (an attorney) to protect the interests of someone who is unable to take care of themselves. My sensitive nature, ability to communicate effectively, and strong advocacy skills allow me to ensure that the best interests of the individual are considered during the legal proceedings.
Probate
Losing a loved one is difficult enough — the legal process that follows should not add unnecessary burden. My services include:
Guiding personal representatives through the full probate process: filing petitions, gathering assets, paying debts, handling taxes, distributing inheritances.
Navigating complex issues like multiple heirs, contested wills, creditor claims, or out-of-state property.
Working with beneficiaries, financial institutions, and the courts so you can focus on your family rather than paperwork.
Explaining timelines, obligations, and options clearly, so you know what to expect at each step.
By bringing organization, legal accuracy and compassion to the probate process, I aim to reduce stress and allow you to move forward with confidence and ultimately closure.
Trust and Estate Administration
When someone has passed or wishes have been established, administering the estate or trust accurately and respectfully is key. I assist trustees, and personal representatives with:
Carrying out the terms of trusts and/or wills: identifying, managing and protecting assets, paying taxes and debts, and distributing to beneficiaries timely.
Providing guidance on fiduciary duties — what you must do, how to document your actions, how and what to communicate with beneficiaries.
Resolving potential conflicts, addressing ambiguities or claims, and providing advice on avoiding personal liability.
Coordinating with accountants, appraisers, real-estate professionals, and other advisors to streamline complex estates.
Terminating trusts or estates when appropriate and delivering final accounting and distributions.
My goal is to give fiduciaries the confidence and structure they need — so the trust and/or estate is administered thoughtfully, transparently and in full compliance with the law.
Beneficiary Representation
In most cases, beneficiaries (and heirs) of estates and trusts do not require their own legal representation. However, if you are unsure of your legal rights, wish to contest or challenge a will or trust, or believe the personal representative or trustee is not properly carrying out its duties, you may benefit from the advice and representation of your own counsel. You should be aware that the attorney for the personal representative/trustee does not represent the individual beneficiaries — the attorney represents the personal representative/trustee, with some fiduciary duties to beneficiaries. You may have significant legal rights to assert for which the attorney and representative are under no legal obligation to advise you of. Many of these rights, especially in probate estates, are extremely time-sensitive.
Generally, the goal of such representation is to ensure that your interests are fully protected during the estate and trust administration process.
I can review and advocate your interests, including:
- Review and explanation of any pertinent wills, trusts and other estate documents, and any issues and implications raised by them.
- Correspondence with estate or trust attorney, or if none, the representative.
- Research of applicable statutes and case law, when necessary.
- Assist in determining if litigation may be necessary or advisable.
- Negotiation and assistance in settlement of disputes.
My goal is to make sure you receive what you are entitled to under a trust and/or will, and the law.