Wills & Codicils In our Estates & Trusts Practice Group, the attorneys are very knowledgeable in estate planning, probate, trust law, and related areas of taxation. Depending on each client's requirements and desires, we can limit our counsel to a single issue, or provide advice on a broad range of personal or family goals and how best to achieve them.       Generating Sensible Estate Planning Solutions   Vascoe Valdes LLP develops sophisticated estate plans for wealthy individuals and families. These plans are designed to reduce potential tax burdens within the context of the client's overall estate-planning objectives. We use sophisticated planning vehicles tailored to each client, including specialized trusts, family-limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and private charitable foundations.   With companies, employee benefits often are at the core of an executive's wealth. We work with these executives on estate planning for stock option plans, ESOPs, retirement benefits, compensation plans, restricted stock and fringe benefits, and compliance with relevant securities laws.   With private and closely held companies, thoughtful, creative estate planning is required to achieve the client's objectives. We counsel owners of busi­nesses on alternatives for transferring ownership and control to the next generation, and in solving liquidity concerns associated with estate taxes.   As the tax law affecting closely held businesses changes, we continually develop new techniques for the smooth transfer of management and ownership. Our lawyers have recapitalized corporations and established partnerships that freeze the values of the older generations' business interests for estate-tax purposes, thereby insulating substantial asset value from federal and state death taxes.       Providing Qualified Estate and Trust Management   The Estates & Trusts Practice Group can design and implement estate plans for multimillion-dollar estates and trusts, including portfolios with such diverse and complex assets as art collections, closely held business interests, real estate held for development, mineral interests, patents, and copyrights. We assist in the administration and management of these estates and trusts, and counsel the beneficiaries in regard to tax-saving techniques. Vascoe Valdes LLP attorneys can also serve as executors or trustees when appropriate.   Our services also include preparation of estate and fiduciary income tax returns, maintenance of computerized trust accounting systems, and representation of fiduciaries before the Internal Revenue Service.       Offering Varied Services for Diverse Legal Needs     Counseling Fiduciaries   In addition to serving as general counsel to execu­tors, trustees, and guardians, our Estates & Trusts Practice Group attorneys serve as special counsel to individual and corporate fidu­ciaries, providing advice about the construction of wills and trusts, complex issues of fiduciary law and fiduciary tax issues.       Estate, Trust, Tax, and Valuation Litigation   Assisted by other members of Vascoe Valdes LLP, we can offer clients extensive experience in trust construction, enforcement and modification suits, will and trust contests, suits to surcharge or remove fiduciaries, and negotiation of private settlement agreements to resolve such litigation out of court. In addition, our attorneys can represent estates in complex estate and gift tax audits and litigation.       Charitable Organizations   Members of the Estates &Trusts Practice Group have experience in forming private foun­dations, donor-advised funds, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable lead trusts for individual estate planning clients. For all charitable organizations, we can advise about developing planned giving programs and establishing such charitable gift vehicles as annuities and pooled income funds.