Estate Planning

Montgomery County Attorneys: Sophisticated Estate Planning Services

Attorneys at High Swartz LLP assist our clients in estate planning, designing and implementing plans that effectively protect assets and provide for the smooth transfer of legacies to heirs.

Federal and Pennsylvania tax planning

For 2007 and 2008, the federal estate tax applies to those who have, upon their death, estates valued at $2 million or more. The Pennsylvania inheritance tax applies to any estate, regardless of size, and takes into consideration both the size of the estate and the relationship of the beneficiary to the decedent.

Skillful tax planning is essential to preserve an estate and transmit the maximum benefit to heirs. Our estate planning practice includes attorney Ronald W. Fenstermacher, Jr., who holds a Master's Degree in Taxation from the Villanova University School of Law. Mr. Fenstermacher and other lawyers from our estate planning practice craft plans that employ a variety of sophisticated strategies to reduce losses to estate taxes, inheritance taxes and probate expenses.

Wills, living wills and powers of attorney

In addition to estate planning services for those with large or complex estates, our attorneys assist our clients in drafting wills, living wills (advance medical directives) with health care directives, powers of attorney and marital agreements that ensure their intentions are carried out in the event of disability or death.

Trusts, prenuptial and marital agreements

Depending on a client's circumstances, an estate plan may also include a spousal trust, children's trust, charitable remainder trust, insurance trust, disability or special needs trust, revocable living trust and an irrevocable trust, as well as a prenuptial agreement or a marital agreement.

• Lois A. Nafziger
• Paul Baker Bartle
• Ronald W. Fenstermacher, Jr.
• Stephanie E. Murphy
• Jacqueline J. Shafer

If you would like to speak to a lawyer from our firm about a special needs trust or guardianship, or have any other question, please contact our Norristown, Pennsylvania, office to arrange a consultation. Our offices are one-half block from the Montgomery County Court House.