Estate Planning

Common estate planning instruments include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, and beneficiary designations. Each serves a specific function—from directing asset distribution to granting decision-making authority in case of incapacity.
We help clients integrate these documents into a coherent, enforceable strategy that evolves as life changes.

A revocable trust allows flexibility—you can amend or revoke it during your lifetime.

An irrevocable trust, by contrast, transfers assets permanently, removing them from your taxable estate and offering creditor protection. Our attorneys guide clients in choosing the right type of trust for their goals and jurisdictional needs.

We also establish charitable remainder trusts, grantor-retained annuity trusts (GRATs), and generation-skipping trusts to serve philanthropic or multigenerational wealth transfer objectives. Each structure is carefully drafted to ensure tax efficiency while honoring donor intent.

We design succession plans that provide for smooth leadership transitions, equitable treatment among heirs, and continuity of business operations. Our team collaborates with accountants and valuation experts to balance liquidity, governance, and inheritance concerns.

We draft buy-sell agreements, shareholder arrangements, and trust-funded insurance mechanisms that guarantee stability in ownership transitions. These instruments safeguard the company’s future while minimizing tax and legal friction.

We help clients use annual exclusion gifts, lifetime exemptions, and family limited partnerships (FLPs) to transfer wealth efficiently while maintaining control. Our attorneys also advise on leveraging valuation discounts for closely held business interests.

For clients with international assets or heirs, we provide guidance on U.S. estate tax treaties, foreign trust reporting (FATCA/FBAR), and double taxation avoidance. We coordinate with global counsel to ensure compliance while optimizing global tax positioning.

Parents can designate guardians for minor children or dependents in their wills or trusts. This proactive measure prevents court disputes and ensures continuity of care consistent with family values.

For beneficiaries with disabilities, we create special needs trusts that preserve eligibility for public benefits while providing supplemental financial support. Our approach combines compassion with precise legal drafting.

When probate is unavoidable, SJKP LLP assists executors and trustees with every step: filing petitions, inventorying assets, resolving debts, and distributing property. Our attorneys ensure compliance with fiduciary duties and court requirements, reducing delays and disputes.

We provide multi-jurisdictional planning that harmonizes U.S. wills and trusts with foreign legal systems. Whether you own property abroad or have non-U.S. beneficiaries, we design integrated solutions that ensure consistency and enforceability worldwide.

We represent trustees, executors, and beneficiaries in disputes over trust interpretation, accounting, and asset misuse. Our goal is to resolve conflicts efficiently, preserving family relationships and honoring the decedent’s intent.