Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, and Probate:
The estate planning practice of Shearer Lanctot & Noelke LLP includes a broad range of advice including the preparation of wills, revocable living trusts which minimize estate costs at death, as well as irrevocable trusts and other estate planning documents. The firm counsels our clients to seek to minimize estate taxes through a variety of techniques to enhance wealth preservation and its passage to others to accomplish the client's wishes in a personal and effective manner. This includes family partnerships, plans to maximize gifts, charitable bequests or charitable remainder trusts.

The firm represents the executor named in a will as well as trustees of trusts in the administration of estates and trusts. In addition, we advise and provide representation in litigation for trustees and beneficiaries of estates and trusts who have questions about an executor's or administrator's proper administration of an probate estate or a trustee's administration of either a trust created by will or other instrument. We handle other litigation relating to probate, wills and trusts.

The firm provides advice to U.S. citizens living outside the United States as well as to non-U.S. citizens with assets in the United States and includes multi-jurisdictional and international advice including under estate and gift tax treaties between the United States and foreign countries.

Effective estate planning today must account for increasing longevity and provide a proper transition of estate management, and personal health care decisions, when one is no longer able to manage his or her own financial or personal affairs. The firm gives advice to find suitable, effective advance solutions to these issues. We also represent persons seeking to establish a conservatorship through the courts and in proceedings after the creation of a conservatorship, when required.

Next Area of Practice