Estates, Trusts and Administration
One of the hallmarks of the law firm of William F. Caye II, LLC is a team approach in achieving a client’s particular objectives regarding estate planning. This is nowhere more evident in the area of wills, estates and trusts, where Bill Caye frequently joins or partners with his clients’ investment advisors, accountants and life underwriters situated in and around Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania.
Whether individuals, families, corporations, partnerships, domestic or foreign entities, Bill will also assist and develop meaningful tax-planning strategies, as well as create and administer estates and trusts and handle tax controversies and other adversarial proceedings.
Estate Planning and Counsel
Why is estate planning so important? Because you never know what might occur and it’s always a good idea to have your wishes made clear on paper, just in case.
The disposition of your estate is not something that you should leave to chance. If you die without a will, your assets and possessions will be distributed according to Pennsylvania laws. A will is the foundation of most people’s estate planning strategy. More complete and encompassing planning may include trusts, powers of attorney and health care directives.
Just like no two people are alike, no two estate plans should be identical. At William F. Caye II, LLC, we pay particular attention to the details of your family. We take the time to ask questions and listen to your answers, so we can provide you with our expert recommendations and ensure you are protected for the future. Our goal is to make the estate planning process as easy as possible and give our clients the peace of mind they deserve.
At William F. Caye II, LLC, we help all kinds of people — single and married, rich and modest alike – create custom estate plans that meet their needs and leave no stone unturned. Proper estate planning is a complex process that should never be accomplished with fill-in-the-blank templates.
Furthermore, we go beyond the traditional execution of testamentary documents by engaging family-run businesses and maintaining a broad referral network to include leading providers of financial planning, long-term care insurance; nursing home and assisted living facility placement, estate asset evaluation. sale and liquidation and Medicaid consulting.
For a complete list of estate planning services, contact William F. Caye II, LLC.
Estate and Fiduciary Litigation
Benjamin Franklin’s astute observation that “in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes” is as true today as ever.
You need a knowledgeable, reliable attorney at your side as you navigate the legal standards, burdens of proof and statutes governing disputes involving wills, trusts or guardianships. The team of Bill Caye and Business Legal P.C.’s Lynn Emerson bring significant experience and insight into the legal issues that enter such disputes and will help you focus and succeed in resolving any critical issues they might present.
We represent fiduciaries and beneficiaries in all kinds of these disputes which in Pennsylvania are overseen by the orphans Court, the informal name for estate and trust litigation court. You might be surprised to discover that many such disputes are not above things like “contesting” a will.
A sample of issues that might arise includes:
- Will and trust contests on behalf of the fiduciaries and/or beneficiaries under challenged documents or other parties who seek to challenge them;
- Executor mismanagement of assets or expenses;
- Litigation involving the proper interpretation of a will or trust;
- Trustee/beneficiary disputes, either on behalf of fiduciaries or disappointed beneficiaries;
- Interpretation of ambiguous, inconsistent or incomplete provisions;
- Disputes arising out of third-party transactions with beneficiaries.
In addition, Bill Caye has represented individuals in contests of testamentary instruments, incapacity proceedings and the disposition of assets. In doing so, the firm has resolved these matters through negotiation, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms or trial, whichever is the most appropriate to achieving positive outcomes.
