Business Law. Steve advises businesses about how to structure and manage their affairs for legal and tax purposes. He advises business owners about the use of corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and professional corporations. Steve advises owners about business succession and “exit” strategies including mergers, sales, and gifts of business interests. He prepares and negotiates contracts for clients, and acts as corporate general counsel as issues arise.

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Tax Law. Steve advises clients about federal, state and local taxes including income tax, estate tax, generation skipping tax, sales and use tax, property tax, property transfer tax, land gains tax, and other taxes. Steve helps structure commercial transactions in the most tax efficient manner. He helps clients with large estates minimize or eliminate their estate tax. Steve represents taxpayers who are being audited, and he defends taxpayers from collection activity by the IRS and Vermont Department of Taxes. Steve works with a client's tax preparer to minimize tax ramifications in a variety of situations.

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Nonprofits. Steve is experienced with the formation and operation of nonprofit corporations, private foundations and charitable trusts. He can prepare the documents needed to form a Vermont nonprofit corporation, and can obtain tax exempt status as a public charity or private foundation for those that qualify under the Internal Revenue Code. Steve is familiar with the rules for charitable supporting organizations. He can prepare charitable trusts and advise trustees and beneficiaries of charitable trusts. Steve has served on several nonprofit boards and is familiar with the operating and fundraising aspects of nonprofit entities.

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Estate Planning. The estate planning process is generally as follows: (1) summarize the client's assets (including real estate, investments, personal property, pensions, life insurance, and so on), (2) decide who the beneficiaries will be and whether the client prefers that the beneficiaries receive their bequests outright or in trust, (3) determine whether estate, gift, and generation skipping taxes apply, and (4) prepare and sign the documents needed to accomplish the plan. Clients have a range of options when preparing an estate plan, from a simple Will, to a revocable trust, to the formation of a family company or specialized trust to accomplish specific goals. Steve has the experience to spot issues, tailor solutions, and explain the options to clients in plain English. He has experience with large and complex estates. He has experience planning for mental and physical disability.

Trusts. In addition to drafting new trusts for clients, Steve advises trustees and beneficiaries about their rights and duties under existing trusts. Trustees are subject to specific duties and obligations in favor of the beneficiaries including, but not limited to, a duty of loyalty to the beneficiaries, a duty to account to the beneficiaries, and a duty to prudently invest trust assets. Steve advises trustees when questions arise, and he represents trustees whose actions have been questioned by one or more beneficiaries. He also represents beneficiaries. Steve is familiar with specialized trusts such as charitable trusts, special needs trusts, defective grantor trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, life insurance trusts, and others.

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Independent Trustee. As independent trustee, Steve retains one or more independent financial advisors given the needs of the beneficiaries, expected duration of the trust, and so on. Steve monitors the investments, provides trust accountings, makes discretionary distribution decisions as required under the trust document, and Steve can deal with real estate and other unique assets held in trust.

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Probate Court.The Probate Court process can be confusing and overwhelming when a loved one has passed away. Steve helps executors and administrators understand the Probate process, administer the Probate estate, and comply with their fiduciary duties. Steve represents beneficiaries who wish to retain their own counsel. Steve is experienced with the guardianship process, and he can help guardians and disabled persons through the process.

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