Probate, Trust and Estate Administration

The firm’s probate practice involves submitting wills to the court for probate and assisting the decedent’s family with alternative heirship proceedings when the decedent died without a will. Once the will is probated, or heirs are determined, GBGR attorneys assist the family with administrative matters such as gathering, inventorying, and valuing assets in the estate and preparing federal estate tax returns, state death tax returns, and state and federal gift and generation-skipping transfer tax returns. For clients who have just lost a loved one, estate administration can be a daunting task. The attorneys at GBGR provide thoughtful, competent assistance in meeting deadlines and navigating them through the legal and practice aspects of the process.  When appropriate, GBGR attorneys also represent beneficiaries of estates in negotiating settlements of estates, protecting beneficiaries’ rights with regard to monitoring costs of administration, and advising in contested matters.

The firm’s domestic trust administration practice involves advising trustees on the legal, tax, and practical aspects of the administration of trusts. When appropriate, GBGR attorneys also represent trust beneficiaries with respect to their rights as beneficiaries and the tax and non-tax aspects related to distributions from trusts.

Attorneys

Michael H. Ripp, Jr.
Partner

Michael represents high net worth individuals and family offices in the design, implementation, and administration of domestic and international trust, investment, and life insurance structures.

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Steven D. Baker
Partner

Mr. Baker advises on a wide variety of estate and business succession, charitable giving, and estate and trust administration matters.

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Lauren Fitte

Lauren M. Fitte
Partner

Lauren focuses on the design, implementation and administration of domestic and international estate and business plans for GBGR’s clients.

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Megan Miller Inouye
Associate

Megan’s practice focuses on the federal income, estate, and gift tax implications for clients utilizing complex estate planning, trust, and business strategies across multiple jurisdictions.

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Coordinators

Carol S. Kohler
Corporate Matters

Carol supports the firm’s income and estate tax attorneys in the design and implementation of domestic and international entity structures.

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