TRUSTS & ESTATES

Whether you are enjoying retirement, just starting a family or somewhere in between, it is essential to establish an estate plan to protect your assets and provide for your loved ones.  At Collins & Jones, we help clients of all ages and incomes with their estate planning needs.

BUSINESS SUCCESSION PLANNING

Many of our clients own small businesses or family farms. When it is time to transition the business or farm management to the next generation, we help clients plan and document the transition in a way that meets their needs while reducing the potential for future disputes.

ESTATE PLANNING

We help clients identify and understand planning options so they can effectively maintain and pass on wealth. We customize plans to individual needs, because every family and every estate is unique. Our services include wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, non-probate transfers, beneficiary deeds and durable powers of attorney.

Collins & Jones also help clients in making some of the most personal decisions of a person’s life – decisions related to illnesses or death. Our attorneys carefully explain options regarding health care advanced directives (also called living wills) and health care durable powers of attorney and then prepare documents specifically tailored for each client’s personal wishes.

ESTATE ADMINISTRATION AND PROBATE

For clients serving as personal representative for a friend or family member, we provide guidance on the administration of an estate, from obtaining letters to final settlement and distribution. We also help clients identify streamlined probate procedures that may expedite the probate process.

GUARDIANSHIP AND CONSERVATORSHIP

Sometimes, the only way to protect and care for our loved ones is to obtain a guardianship and/or conservatorship. We assist our clients with all aspects of obtaining guardianship or conservatorship of a loved one, including litigating when the matter is contested.

PROBATE AVOIDANCE

Probate can be expensive and lengthy, so many clients’ primary estate planning goal is to avoid probate as much as possible. We provide advice on how to complete beneficiary designations for assets that may be left by non-probate transfers, such as bank accounts, certificates of deposit, stocks, retirement accounts, insurance policies, and vehicles. We also help clients with the creation of various types of trusts and the preparation of beneficiary deeds.

TRUST AND ESTATE FIDUCIARY LITIGATION

Even the best estate plans can lead to conflict. Our preference is to resolve trust disputes long before they see the courtroom. When that is not possible, we have the trial skills needed to aggressively defend your interests in court. We have tried trust case involving thousands to hundreds of millions in assets and stand ready to assist you in all of your trust and estate litigation needs.

TESTIMONIALS

“I can’t say enough wonderful things about the work Debbie has done for me and my family! She was an absolute pleasure
to work with, compassionate, 100% dedicated to guiding me through a very difficult time and made the overwhelming process of executing my mother’s estate so seamless. You are truly a blessing to my sisters and I and without your incredible support we would not have been able to finalize things so quickly!”
Jennifer Spencer

Austin, Texas

Past results do not guarantee future results. Every case and matter is different and should be judged on its own merits. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.

CONTACT US

RAYMORE
OFFICE

Phone: 816-318-9966

Fax: 888-376-8024
OSCEOLA
OFFICE
Phone: 417-646-2245
Fax: 888-463-4813