Judy counsels individuals and families on wealth planning that includes appreciation of current and future financial and personal needs. She works with clients designing plans to preserve, protect and transfer individual or business assets to future generations. As an estate planning lawyer, Judy recognizes that estate planning is most effective when done in advance of a crisis, but that life is often unpredictable. Whatever the timing, anticipation of a client and their family’s needs is a crucial component to effective estate planning and Judy applies this philosophy as an estate attorney.
Judy has extensive legal experience with the most effective tools for the transfer of assets such as wills and trusts, including asset protection trusts, irrevocable and revocable trusts, and pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements. She develops and incorporates effective planning strategies to minimize tax liability using credit shelter trusts, qualified terminable interest property trusts (QTIP) and irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs). Judy also has considerable experience as the lead attorney in handling the administration of estates and trusts.
She frequently works with clients on the care, well-being and legal issues that affect older Americans and individuals with disabilities, and uses this experience to inform her elder care law practice. She assists clients with Medicaid planning, long-term care planning and wealth preservation, developing effective plans to assure her clients receive the best care, and where possible, implement asset protection and crisis planning techniques. Judy’s legal counseling for clients includes planning for disability through the use of powers of attorney, living wills and health care proxies, guardianships, and the drafting and administration of supplemental needs and other types of trusts. Judy also serves as attorney counsel to business clients and advises on creating efficient approaches for succession planning and how to transition closely held businesses to the next generation or key employees.