Estate and Trust Administration

We provide estate and trust administration services, serving personal representatives, executors, trustees, and trust companies. Whether you need to probate a will, administer an estate, or distribute the proceeds of a trust, we can help.

Estate Administration

Probate, or estate administration, is the court supervised process of passing assets to beneficiaries after a death. This is a required step when asset pass through a will, or when a person has no estate planning previously completed. Estate administration requires knowledge of a number of legal areas. We will represent and advise personal representatives who need to probate a will. We will inventory assets and will advise on the sale of property if that is required to wind up an estate. We will prepare estate tax returns, and distribute the estate to heirs according to the specifications of the will. We make sure that all outstanding bills are paid and claims satisfied. To accomplish these tasks, we use our knowledge of probate law, real estate law, tax law, and business law.

Trust Administration

In matters related to trusts, our attorneys provide guidance and support to the trustees after the client's death. Our services include the following:

• Advising and assisting the trustees in complying with his or her fiduciary duties
• Notifying the beneficiaries of their interest in the trust
• Drafting documents for banks and financial institutions
• Dividing the trust and creating sub trusts as provided in the trust agreement
• Working with other professional advisors (ie. CPAs and financial advisors)
• Dividing and distributing the trust assets

Trust Reformation

Alaska has unique laws that allow trusts (even irrevocable trusts) to be modified or amended because circumstances have changes. Our services include the following:

• Assisting a trustee or beneficiary in judicially modifying a trust
• Moving a trust to Alaska
• Decanting a trust under Alaska law