Richards, Layton & Finger PA

Delaware’s dynamic trust and estate law permits specialized and sophisticated fiduciary structures, as well as varied personal planning options for individuals and institutions.Richards Layton’s Trusts & Estates Group comprises skilled attorneys who are committed to helping their clients understand these options and achieve the best possible results.We believe in a cooperative approach, working closely with in-house counsel, investment advisors, accountants, and institutional representatives to develop coordinated and comprehensive strategies that utilize the unique advantages of Delaware law.

INSTITUTIONAL CLIENTS

Our attorneys focus on helping institutions successfully administer the wealth entrusted to their oversight in a manner that best serves their clients.

The Trusts & Estates Group regularly assists with the following matters:

• Fiduciary Advice.We advise institutions in matters involving fiduciary duties, trust construction, information disclosure, fiduciary accounting, and similar issues that arise in the course of trust and estate administrations.
• Estate Settlement. We counsel institutions in their roles as corporate executors and trustees regarding proper estate settlement, including oversight and assisting with carrying out their duties, and we represent our institutional clients before the Delaware Court of Chancery and the Internal Revenue Service.
• Non-Contested and Contested Litigation.We represent institutions before the Court of Chancery in disputes involving will contests, the reformation or construction of trusts, the construction of wills, probate controversies, and alleged breaches of fiduciary duty.
• Charitable Institutions.We represent private foundations and charitable trusts, including in connection with formation matters, applications for tax exemption, tax-exemption compliance, and other matters.

INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS

Richards Layton’s trusts & estates attorneys are committed to helping our individual clients manage and protect their personal wealth through the implementation of effective estate planning and tax strategies.We also help our individual clients navigate the intricacies of the fiduciary capacities in which they may be serving, ensuring that they function successfully and seamlessly in these roles.

The Trusts & Estates Group is regularly entrusted to assist with:

• Personal Estate Planning.We develop personalized estate plans that reflect the client’s intentions while balancing tax and liquidity concerns, fiduciary responsibilities, and beneficiary needs.
• Tax Planning and Structuring. We advise individuals regarding the creation of trusts and lifetime giving decisions, with the goal of minimizing the transfer tax impact and maximizing family wealth planning.
• Non-Contested and Contested Litigation.We represent settlors, beneficiaries, and individual fiduciaries before the Delaware Court of Chancery in disputes involving will contests, the reformation or construction of trusts, the construction of wills, probate controversies, and alleged breaches of fiduciary duty.
• Fiduciary Advice.We advise individuals serving in fiduciary roles within trust structures and other personal estate planning documents regarding general administration, fiduciary duties, and similar issues that arise in the course of trust and estate administrations.
• Estate Settlement. We advise individuals serving as executors and trustees regarding the details that surround the proper settlement of an estate and assist with overseeing and carrying out such items, including representation before the Court of Chancery and the Internal Revenue Service.