PRACTICE AREAS

Estate planning is the process of preparing instructions on how your assets will be managed before and after your death. At a minimum your estate plan should include three important documents: 1) a will, 2) a financial power of attorney, and 3) a medical power of attorney. It may also include a revocable trust depending on your specific financial situation. The purpose of estate planning is not just to allow you to decide what will happen with your assets at the time of your death, but also to help save you and your loved ones time and legal costs, as well as to avoid financial and administrative hassles throughout the probate process. Proper estate planning can help provide security and peace of mind for you and your family. If you require assistance at any stage in this process, please contact one of our attorneys who will work with you to ensure that your estate planning needs are met and your estate is protected.

Probate is the process of administering the estate or trust of a deceased individual. During this process, our experienced attorneys and staff will work with the executor(s) or trustee(s) of the deceased individual’s estate or trust to help guide them through this process. This includes assisting them with all or some of the following tasks (among others): 1. Getting the executor(s) or trustee(s) appointed; 2. Obtaining financial information for all of the decedent’s assets and debts; 3. Ensuring all debts of the decedent have been paid and any claims against the decedent’s estate have been satisfied; 4. Filing all required tax returns and making sure all applicable taxes have been paid; 5. Filing all required reports and other necessary documentation with the court; and 6. Making final distributions to the beneficiaries of the decedent’s estate or trust. The probate of a person’s estate or trust can be a complex process and may appear confusing to the uninitiated. Probate is a very technical area of the law filled with rules, requirements and restrictions that the executor or trustee must follow closely in accordance with the Iowa Code. An executor or trustee may face personal liability for the mismanagement of the assets of the estate or trust. The complex nature of the process and the potential for intentional (and even unintentional) mismanagement of the assets of the estate or trust requires the assistance of an experienced attorney and staff familiar with this process. If you have questions or concerns regarding your own estate or the probate process, or if you have recently experienced the loss of a loved one, please contact one of our attorneys, who with the help of our staff, will guide you through the process and ensure that you or your loved one’s estate will be handled professionally and properly.

Whether you’re looking to buy a house, sell a farm, lease a commercial property, or buy that cabin up by the lake you’ve always dreamed about, our firm can assist you with your real estate transaction. Our attorneys and staff have the knowledge and experience to assist our clients with almost any type of real estate issue you may have. If you have questions or concerns regarding your house, your farm, or any other real estate you may own, please contact one of our attorneys who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

If you’re considering starting a new business venture or have finally made the decision to incorporate your existing business, our experienced attorneys and staff can help you set up the right legal entity you’ll need (LLC, LLP, corporation, partnership, etc.) in order to protect your assets and ensure the most favorable tax treatment for your company. If you have questions or concerns regarding your business or which entity may be right for you, please contact one of our attorneys who can assist you with any questions you may have.

Taxation isn’t just a certainty of life… it’s also an extremely important area of the law which affects much of the advice and assistance we provide our clients in the areas of Estate Planning, Probate, Real Estate and Business law. Whether you’re the executor of an estate, the seller of a piece of farmland, or a taxpayer needing assistance with your personal income tax returns, our attorneys and staff have the knowledge and experience to answer any tax questions you may have and assist you with the preparation and filing of any tax returns that may be required. If you have a tax related question or need assistance with the preparation and filing of a tax return, please do not hesitate to contact one of our experienced attorneys today.