Have you been named as Executor, Administrator, or Trustee?
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Are you a devisee of a Will or a beneficiary of an estate?
What do you do?
What legal obligations do you have?
What risks are you taking if you serve?
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Attorney Kathleen L. Macaulay represents Executors, Administrators, and Trustees and can advise you about your legal responsibilities and risks. Estate and Trust administration can be a smooth, straightforward process, or it can be a difficult experience. Kathleen can explain the process and help you evaluate the risks.
If you are named as executor in a loved one's will, Kathleen can help you:
If you are a beneficiary of an estate, Kathleen can help you:
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What is a Guardianship and How Does Guardianship Work?
A guardianship is a court-supervised administration for a minor or an incapacitated person. A person — called the guardian — is appointed by a court to care for the person and/or property of the minor or incapacitated person — called the ward. In other states, guardianships are called conservatorships.
There are two types of guardians and guardianship. A guardian is appointed to take care of the physical well-being of a ward, also called a guardian of the person, while a guardian appointed to take care of the ward’s property is called a guardian of the estate. In some cases, only one type of guardian is appointed for a particular ward. In many cases, both a guardian of the person and a guardian of the estate is appointed for a ward. (Often, but not always, they are the same person.)
Going Through Probate
If you have recently experienced the loss of a loved one, Kathleen will guide you through the probate process from start to finish. If you have been appointed Executor or Trustee by the Will of a loved one, Kathleen will advise you to ensure you properly fulfill your fiduciary responsibilities and assist in you managing and transferring the assets of the estate to the intended beneficiaries. If you have a minor or incapacitated family member in need of a guardianship, Kathleen will assist you through the guardianship process step by step.
Our Other Practice Areas
Finding Heirs - Forensic Genealogy
As an attorney and forensic genealogist, Kathleen lends her expertise in both areas to the diligent search and conduct of legal proceedings to establish unknown heirs.
Estate Planning and Tax
Kathleen’s goal is to help to ensure you and your loved ones will be provided for in the event of your death or disability with proper estate planning.
Business Organization Planning
Each business is unique, and the question of which form of organization is best can only be answered by looking at the specifics of the business and its goals.
Plan for the Future Today
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This can be an uncomfortable topic to consider, but it is critically important. A well-crafted estate plan can minimize the tax impact on the disposition of your assets, ensure a smooth transition of assets to your heirs, and most importantly, allow you to plan now for the care and well-being of your children, relatives, and friends after you are gone.
About Kathleen
Kathleen Macaulay is a licensed attorney with over twelve years of experience whose practice focuses on estate planning, probate matters, and related tax advice. This includes drafting wills and medical powers of attorney, establishing trusts to preserve assets, managing probate estates.