Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC

All clients face important issues in the desire to preserve the assets they have accumulated for their families, and to arrange for efficient administration of their estates. Attorneys in the Estate Planning Group are well versed in techniques that aid clients in forming and implementing comprehensive estate plans. While reducing estate tax liability is an important focus of the estate planning process at Baker Donelson, we understand that each client's situation is unique, and that tax motivated decisions must be consistent with the client's personal desires. Taking into account estate and income tax issues, as well as human and family concerns and financial management factors, our goal is to create comprehensive estate plans to address all these issues, while tailoring each plan to the needs of the individual client: from traditional wills and trusts for taxable and nontaxable estates, to more sophisticated planning including the formation and implementation of business succession plans, family entities, charitable trusts, irrevocable insurance trusts and private foundations.

Estate administration is an essential part of the Group's practice. Administration of a decedent's estate offers many opportunities for income and estate tax savings through careful post-mortem planning. Valuation issues are often critical in larger estates, and our attorneys have developed strong working relationships with professionals who value many different types of property. The Group also maintains relationships with accountants who have significant experience in both estate tax and estate income tax matters.

We also counsel clients in matters of probate and trust administration, post-mortem planning, marital agreements (both prenuptial and postnuptial) guardianship and conservatorship actions for minors and incapacitated adults, and the preparation of gift and estate tax returns.

Several of our attorneys are Fellows of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC), the nationally recognized estate planning organization. Additionally, we speak frequently on estate-related topics to a variety of organizations, teach and train other attorneys, and have published articles in numerous nationally recognized publications. In addition to the attorneys in the Estate Planning/Probate Group, Baker Donelson attorneys throughout the Firm have extensive experience in real property, corporate, partnership, retirement planning, litigation and many other matters. These other members of the Firm are immediately available to assist when the needs of our client or an estate fall within those areas.