Our Areas of Practice
Estate Planning and Administration
The firm’s estate planning and administration practice centers around providing personal, in depth counseling to individuals and families on the transfer of their property in accordance with their goals and at the smallest tax cost consistent with these goals. To accomplish the clients’ wishes while retaining the greatest possible flexibility, our estate planning attorneys prepare Wills as well as Revocable and Irrevocable lifetime and testamentary trusts. We assist clients in planning for the care of the incapacitated through use of durable powers of attorney, living trusts, appointment of health care representatives and special needs trusts for disabled persons.
We also represent family members during the initiation and administration of guardianship proceedings. Our attorneys assist clients with their lifetime planning, including preparation of prenuptial agreements, gifting programs and programs to preserve family wealth, including family limited partnerships, limited liability companies and recapitalizations, while giving consideration to income, gift, estate and generation skipping transfer taxes. These plans are frequently accomplished in cooperation with the clients’ other professional advisors, e.g., bank trust departments, life insurance agents, accountants and financial planners.
Agriculture Law
Whether you are a large agricultural business or a family farmer, you need experienced agricultural counsel. We understand the agricultural community and intricacies of the business. In this time of great change in agriculture, practical and responsible agricultural counsel is a necessity.
Probate and Wealth Transfers
Roethe Law Firm LLP’s estate lawyers have substantial experience in probate matters and wealth transfers. The firm also represents executors, trustees and individuals in probate litigation matters, including Will and Trust contests, claims in estates, objections to accountings and contested guardianships.
Real Estate & Property Development
Roethe Law Firm LLP provides comprehensive legal services in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate transactions. The firm’s real estate practice includes representation of clients in development, construction, zoning, and leasing. The firm also structures IRS Section 1031 like-kind exchanges; condominium associations; all aspects of real estate litigation, including land use and foreclosures; municipal land use planning and zoning; and acquisition and disposition of real property.
Business Law
Roethe Law Firm LLP provides legal services to business entities with respect to all kinds of business transactions. We regularly advise clients on all issues relating to the formation and operation of their businesses. In the formation of a new business, we evaluate and document the choice of entity from corporate, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited liability companies or sole proprietorships. At the operational level, our attorneys are experienced in negotiating and documenting all types of contractual arrangements including distributor and dealer agreements; research and development partnerships; buy-sell agreements among business owners; employment and consulting agreements; director and officer indemnification agreements; confidentiality agreements; covenants not to compete; and other contracts and documents required in the operation of a business enterprise.
Our firm is actively involved in negotiating and structuring sales and acquisitions of businesses. These transactions range from small to medium sized family owned businesses who are selling to third parties to leveraged buy outs. We assist in shareholder and director meetings and advise businesses in their compliance efforts with various complex laws and regulations involved in their transaction.