Helping You Do Business Right

My practice centers on two primary areas:

(1) Advising and assisting clients in developing or updating their estate plans. This starts with gaining an understanding of the client's primary concerns and goals, and involves discussion of estate and gift tax, as well as such issues as creditor protection, asset management, trust administration and others. Then, we draft documents to achieve the client's goals, always a Will and Durable Power of Attorney and Health Care Instructions, and often trust agreements aimed at achieving tax minimization and creditor protection.

(2) Assisting clients in the administration and settlement of estates. This involves preparation and filing of documents required in the probate court (we routinely appear in most of the probate courts in Fairfield County), preparation and filing of all required estate tax and income tax returns, and all of the information gathering and general oversight of the process.

Beyond these primary areas of practice, I have accumulated experience over the years in real estate matters, mostly residential though some commercial, and in matters involving contract and insurance law, and counseled individuals, families and both commercial and non profit organizations on a multitude of issues.

Areas of Practice

  • Probate (estate settlement, trust administration, related tax matters)
  • Estate Planning (preparation of Wills and Trusts and ancillary documents)
  • Real Estate and miscellaneous matters

Bar Admissions

  • New York, 1976
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1976
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 1976
  • Connecticut, 1977
  • U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1984
  • U.S. Tax Court, 1984

Education

  • Cornell Law School, Ithaca, New York
    • J.D. - 1975
  • University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
    • B.A. - 1969
    • Major: History and English

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Connecticut Bar Association, Member
  • Fairfield County Bar Association, Member
  • New York State Bar Association, Member
  • Trust and Estates Section, CBA, Member, 1985 to Present
  • Estate Planning Council, Lower Fairfield County, Member, 2005 to Present

Past Employment Positions

  • US Army, 1st Lieutenant, served in Vietnam, 1969 to 1972
  • Hart & Hume, other firms, Assoc, then Principal, 1975 to 2003

Pro Bono Activities

  • Former Senior Warden, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
  • Former President, Wilton Chamber of Commerce
  • Estate Planning Council, Lower Fairfield County, 1995 to Present
  • Justice of the Peace
  • Legal Counsel, The Wilton Historical Society, Inc.
  • Wilton Land Trust - Board and Executive Committee, 2016 to 2018

Fraternities / Sororities

  • Delta Kappa Epsilon