Jackson Walker estate planners work primarily with individuals and families to help them formulate and achieve their goals in three broad areas: Wealth Transfer Planning; Estate and Trust Administration; and Asset Protection.

Wealth Transfer Planning
Work in this area may include helping clients preserve and manage property as it passes through generations, providing organized methods of family business succession, protecting the interests of family members who may be incapacitated, and structuring assets to accomplish the client's charitable objectives.

The firm's estate planners have considerable experience in structuring estate and wealth transfer plans that consider each client's individual situation. In addition, these attorneys are dedicated to a superior level of personal service and attention to detail, crafting each client's plan to account for and implement that particular client's specific needs, desires and objectives. JW estate planning attorneys have the knowledge, experience and ability to draw on a number of techniques and vehicles, from simple to sophisticated, to accomplish each client's wealth transfer planning goals.

Estate and Trust Administration
JW estate planners have extensive experience in the area of estate and trust administration, and possess the specialized knowledge necessary to assist individual and corporate executors and trustees fulfill the fiduciary obligations of their offices. JW legal services in this area also include assisting fiduciaries with administration of estates and trusts, planning for asset distributions, and determining and planning for income and transfer tax consequences of transactions involving estates, trusts and their beneficiaries. JW attorneys also handle all matters involving litigation associated with administration of estates or trusts, including contests and breaches of fiduciary duty.

Asset Protection
An integral part of wealth transfer planning is the legitimate, coordinated, and deliberate shielding of assets from claims that may arise from judgment or malpractice creditors, or in marital dissolution. JW estate planners have developed significant knowledge and expertise to help clients, through the use of asset protection trusts, limited liability entities and other vehicles, keep their assets in the hands of those for whom they are intended.

Basic Estate Planning

• Wills
• Revocable Living Trusts
• Powers of Attorney for Asset Management
• Powers of Attorney for Health Care Management
• Advanced Directives (Living Wills)
• Other Ancillary Documents, as needed

Business Succession Planning

• Buy-sell and Stock Restriction Agreements
• Family Business Planning Arrangements
• Voting Trusts and Other Key Shareholder Arrangements

Asset Protection

• Investment Limited Partnerships
• State Exemption Planning
• Asset Protection Trusts
• Pre and Post Marital Agreements
• Partition and Community Property Agreements

Charitable Planning

• Formation and Operation of Private Foundations, Support Organizations, and Public Charities
• Charitable Remainder Trusts
• Charitable Lead Trusts
• Charitable Bargain Sales and Other Techniques

Estate and Gift Planning Vehicles

• Generation Skipping Tax Exempt Trusts
• Dynasty Trusts
• Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
• Family Limited Partnerships And Family Limited Liability Companies
• Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts
• Defective Grantor Trusts
• Sales to Defective Trusts
• Qualified Personal Residence Trusts

Tax Exempt Organizations
Jackson Walker attorneys focus on the special needs of tax exempt organizations, helping to get new organizations off to a healthy start, staying with them as they grow and develop, and representing some of the largest private foundations, associations, and health care and educational institutions in Texas. JW attorneys have encountered and addressed the special issues that affect exempt organizations and have implemented strategies to address these situations, including:

• Consider and resolve issues related to application of unrelated business income tax to tax-exempt organizations
  
  
• Structure and analyze joint ventures between nonprofit and for-profit entities
  
  
• Address and resolve issues related to prohibited private inurement and private benefit
  
  
• Prepare and update governing documents of all tax-exempt entities, including corporations, associations and trusts
  
  
• Analyze and address the character of the entity – public charity, private foundation, support organization, non-charitable exempt organization
  
  
• Analyze likely sources of revenue and organizational activities and their impact on exempt status
  
  
• Prepare and file exemption applications, Forms 1023 or 1024, with the Internal Revenue Service
  
  
• Consider issues related to board makeup, structure and operation; facilitate smooth board and corporate operation
  
  
• Assist entities in maintaining tax exempt status, including representing tax exempt entities before the IRS and other regulatory agencies
  
  
• Assist entities in issuing tax-exempt bonds; counsel and assist in implementation of other financing options
  
  
• Assist private foundations with termination of public charity status

Family Office Group
At Jackson Walker, we provide trusted counsel to some of the most affluent and influential families in Texas. We know the legal considerations that come with significant family wealth are diverse and complicated. That's why we build a relationship with each client, tailoring our services to your unique needs.
> Read more about the Family Office Group