Practices

In addition to traditional estate and wealth planning services, we counsel our clients on techniques to preserve and protect their wealth from potential legal risks. Such risks may arise from various circumstances, including failed business ventures, medical malpractice and personal injury claims, or the termination of marital or other personal relationships. We have developed sophisticated solutions for high-net-worth individuals and their families. Such solutions may include the use of family limited partnerships and limited liability companies and trusts established in the United States and foreign jurisdictions.

Many of our clients are business owners. In some cases, one or more family members are involved in the business, while others are not. We offer innovative and practical methods to pass the family business onto the next generation and/or to key employees or business partners. We suggest methods to equalize inheritance to preserve familial relationships and to ensure that the business continues and thrives. Our experience and skills help our clients successfully navigate through tax issues, corporate issues, family issues and non-family relationship issues to create optimal results for them, their business and their family.

We help clients protect their assets in the event of a long term illness, while we address their tax and estate planning goals. Such planning includes irrevocable asset preservation trusts, special (or supplemental) needs trusts, and medical and financial advance directive documents. We also provide planning solutions for clients who may have family members with special needs, to help provide our clients and their families with peace of mind.

Bouklas & Associates handles all stages of the administration of estates and trusts. We guide our clients through all phases of the administration process: the probate or administration proceeding in the Surrogate’s Court; collection of assets and resolutions of debts and claims; preparation of the estate tax returns; representation of the estate in tax audits; fiduciary accountings; and distribution of the estate assets to the beneficiaries. We also are experienced in post-mortem planning, including disclaimer planning and offering innovative techniques to “fix” wills or trusts which may not have been properly drafted to carry out the family’s tax and planning goals.

We have successfully represented clients in various types of estate and trust litigation and complex Surrogate's Court proceedings, including contested accountings, contested will and trust agreements, and proceedings to construe provisions of wills.

Litigation can be costly, painful and time consuming, and may result in divisions among family members. We strive to facilitate constructive dialogue between disputing parties. However, when the resolution of a dispute through voluntary settlement is not possible, we zealously litigate our client's position through all stages of litigation.

We have substantial experience in the preparation and negotiation of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements (as well as cohabitation agreements for unmarried couples), representing heterosexual and same-sex couples of modest to considerable wealth. Whether it is a young couple where one or both spouses are seeking to protect their business interests or a family inheritance, or a couple where one or both spouses have children from a prior marriage for whom they are concerned about protecting (while providing for their spouse), we draw on our experience and knowledge of tax law, wills, trusts and estates law and corporate law to produce a comprehensive and fair agreement to protect family wealth and identify potential issues. We recognize and are sensitive to the fact that these agreements are delicate issues for most couples. Therefore, our style is to zealously advocate for our client with an eye towards preserving the relationship of the couple.