Slugg and Associates, PLC

Estate Planning

Estate Planning | Trusts | Wills | Durable Powers of Attorney | Living Wills | Special Needs Planning

Estate Planning (General)

I am often asked by potential clients to prepare “simple wills” because “we don’t have much”.  I realize that this is a golden opportunity to educate and enlighten these callers to just what they may really have in terms of assets:  the ability to control their lives, assets and future generations.  Clients who initially sought merely “simple wills” are often my best clients, as they are truly excited to plan for a future that includes control over their own lives and a safe passage of their legacy to their children.

While I do prepare documents for my clients such as wills (sometimes even “simple wills” is the circumstances warrant), trusts, special needs trusts, powers of attorney, living wills and HIPAA waivers, these documents are simply the manifestation of a finely crafted Life Plan that avoid many of the pitfalls all of us face at one time or another in our lives, and to then carry that forward in such a manner that their children receive the most beneficial use of their hard earned assets. 

I work with my clients and their financial and life advisors to arrive at the most appropriate, comprehensive and integrated planning solutions in the areas of estate planning, asset protection, special needs and business succession.

Trusts

Through a living trust, an individual can both manage his or her assets while alive as well as designate a trustee who will either distribute or continue to manage the assets contained in the trust after the individual's death.  Trusts can be used to avoid probate  which can be an expensive and time-consuming process associated with the admission of wills. Trusts are especially useful for individuals owning property in multiple states or worldwide.

Wills

A Last Will and Testament is designed primarily to ensure that a person's assets are distributed according to his or her wishes after death.  An individual's will contains both instructions for the distribution of assets and the name of an executor who will carry out those instructions after the individual's death.

Durable Powers of Attorney

A Durable Power of Attorney allows an individual to authorize another person to act on his or her behalf regarding financial or in some cases, medical matters in the case of the individual's incapacitation.

Living Wills

A Living Will allows an individual to detail his or her wishes regarding medical treatment in case he or she is incapacitated.

Special Needs Planning

Some of our clients have children or spouses with special needs that need extra care and will continue to need extra care.  Estate Plans can be crafted to provide for you extra-care family member while still allowing you full control of your assets while you are alive and to provide maximum protection and assets for the care of your child or spouse when you are no longer able.  We customize Special Needs Plans to allow the greatest amount of flexibility to future administrators of your estate for the care of your extra-care family member.

Estate Administration

Administering the estate of a deceased family member can be difficult for the one charged with the responsibility of executing the provisions of the estate documents.  I help clients navigate the administration process and make sure it is handled as efficiently as possible.  

Real Estate

Commercial | Residential

Slugg and Associates advises and counsels clients in the purchase, sale or lease of their residential and commercial real estate.  I handle not only the creation and negotiation of contracts, but I also work with landlords and tenants to create leases and resolve issues.  I am skilled in title issue resolution, as well as title transfer in decedent estate matters.

Residential Real Estate

Settlement transactions, contract preparation and negotiation, dispute resolution, document preparation. Buyer and seller counsel.

Commercial Real Estate

Settlement transactions, negotiations, closings. Buyer and seller counsel. 

Loss Mitigation

Borrower representation either in default of mortgages or impending default. We work closely with borrowers to arrive at favorable solutions to debt problems. 

Property Owner Associations

Advice and counsel for Home Owners Associations (HOA) and Condominium Owners Associations (COA), delinquent dues collection and covenant enforcement. 

Real Estate Owned (REO)/Deed in Lieu

Mortgagee representation for post-foreclosure outsales and Deed in Lieu transactions. Our attorneys are experienced in all phases of seller representation from ordering and clearing title, reviewing the foreclosure process, to reviewing the contract for sale and eventually coordinating the sale on the institutional seller's behalf. We work directly with noteholders or through asset management companies to effect a timely, seamless transaction of foreclosed properties to third party purchasers. 

Business Law

I assist clients with all types of small business transactional issues, from formation and operation to merger, sale/purchase and succession to the next generation.  Your small business - and all it entails- is an integral part of your personal estate and we understand its importance as a part of your Legacy.