Planning for the future is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself, your loved ones, and the assets you’ve worked hard to accumulate and grow. Our estate planning attorneys work closely with individuals and families to create comprehensive, personalized plans that provide peace of mind for years to come.
Whether you’re just beginning to think about your legacy or need to revisit an existing estate plan, we are here to guide you through every step of the process.
Estate Planning Documents & Tools
Our experienced attorneys are familiar with various estate planning documents and tools including, but not limited to:
- Wills, including “Pour-Over Wills”;
- Revocable Living Trusts;
- Joint Trusts;
- Irrevocable Trusts, including ILITs, GRATs, SLATs, and QPRTs;
- Durable Power of Attorneys;
- Medical (Healthcare) Power of Attorneys;
- Advance Medical Directives (or “Living Wills”);
- HIPAA Authorizations and Releases;
- Beneficiary Designations; and
- Deeds required to transfer real property, including quit claim deeds and beneficiary deeds.
Estate Planning for Taxable Estates
Our firm’s combined expertise in tax and estate planning allows us to advise high-net worth individuals and families who have (or are likely to have) taxable estates.
The federal government imposes a tax on the transfer of wealth, both during lifetime and at death. Certain gifts made by a taxpayer during life may be subject to the federal gift tax. At death, the taxpayer’s estate may be subject to the federal estate tax.
Taxpayers are afforded a combined gift and estate tax exemption. For 2026, this exemption amount is $15 million per person. Taxable gifts made by an individual during his or her life will reduce the exemption amount available (or leftover) to use at the time of death. This combined or “unified” tax system was designed to prevent the avoidance of estate taxes by gifting assets away before death. Understanding how this unified tax system operates is imperative for clients who may ultimately have a taxable estate.
Because the combined gift and estate tax exemption is so large, not every estate will be subject to federal estate tax. However, for sizable estates, the consequences could be significant. Our attorneys specializing in both tax and estate planning understand these consequences and can work with you to develop a tax-efficient estate plan.
Colorado does not impose a separate state-level estate tax, but careful planning remains essential given the uncertainty of future legislation.