Services

Conservator

Conservatorships are crucial when a loved one requires support because of the onset of physical or cognitive decline. Immediate family may not be able to step in and fill the role of conservator for their parent or another loved one.

In those instances the services of a trusted fiduciary are key to the ongoing needs of the person and/or their estate. The fiduciary takes on the role of decision making and places their conservatee’s interests in front of any and all others.

Power of Attorney

A power of attorney provides the assigned agent very specific powers to act on behalf of another person with their best interest at the core of the performance of those duties.

The power may be for a specific transaction or of an ongoing nature. A power of attorney gives the agent a legal right to sign documents for their principal when that person is unavailable or wants a knowledgeable representative in financial matters.

Trustee

A trustee takes upon the role of being the fiduciary of the estate and following its directives for the designated beneficiaries.

There is a special duty of trust and responsibility that the fiduciary follows in their conduct with the best interest of the estate and beneficiaries in mind. A trustee has a duty of loyalty and avoiding any conflict of interest in exercising the duties as a fiduciary for the trust.

A successor trustee assumes the trust administration upon the death or incapacity of the original trustee. A successor trustee will follow the instructions of the trust document including distribution of trust assets to the beneficiaries.

Protection of the trust assets is key as is communication with the beneficiaries related to the activity occurring within the trust.

In the event of a loved one’s death, a will designates an executor for the estate. Where no will exists, an executor may be designated by the probate court. The executor accumulates assets of the estate, settles all debts, pays taxes and distributes the remaining assets to the beneficiaries.

An executor may be a family member or friend. An independent executor may be best when a family member is not able or qualified to perform the duties. If there are multiple beneficiaries, it may be desirable to have an impartial individual named as executor to maintain peace in the family.

Sometimes one would prefer to hand-off the bill paying duties associated with daily living and have the benefit of a another eye to review bills, statements or invoices.

We can assume this duty and provide accounting records of the transactions that will assist your tax preparer at tax time.