Trusts & Estates

Why MZS? Personalized estate planning and administration services.

At MZS we provide our clients with a wide range of trusts and estates services, including estate planning, probate administration, and probate disputes and litigation. We work closely with our clients and their families to develop personalized estate plans that accomplish the important goals of protecting inheritances for heirs, minimizing estate taxes, avoiding the probate process where possible, and ensuring that their wishes are carried out when they are gone. We have significant experience assisting high net worth individuals with complex estate planning matters involving their business and personal assets and take great pride in the individualized attention we give to our clients.

Our probate administration services include navigating our clients through the various steps of the process. Our commitment to providing multidisciplinary service to our client allows us to assist and support our clients with any residential real estate closings or estate sales that may be necessary as part of probate. Our experienced litigators assist clients with probate litigation matters, including will contests and disputes among beneficiaries.

While the careful preparation and coordination of detailed paperwork is an important part of estate planning, the trusted relationships we develop with our clients while helping them plan for the future and the well-being of their families is what makes MZS unique for estate planning practices. We strive to deliver smart and practical solutions with efficiency, responsiveness, and compassion. Whether your estate is simple or sophisticated, whether you are just starting the estate planning process or you find yourself embroiled in a contentious dispute over a will or a messy probate administration, we will provide practical guidance and sound counsel during what can be a highly stressful time for you and your loved ones.

Trusts and Estates Services

Our trusts and estate services include:

Estate Planning

Estate planning is not a one-size-fits-all proposition; every family should have a unique plan that is tailored to the specific needs of all involved. We work closely with our clients to understand their goals and objectives for the future of their loved ones and their assets, then outline the various estate planning options to best achieve their estate planning goals. We are experienced in helping our clients with a wide range of estate planning tools and strategies, including wills, trusts, end-of-life documents, powers of attorney, and health care directives.

Estate planning is a lifelong and dynamic process, so we also assist our clients with updating their estate plans following major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, new or growing business endeavors, or a substantial gift or inheritance.

In our estate planning practice, we strive to anticipate and address potential challenges, implementing dispute prevention strategies wherever possible. Good planning can go a long way toward reducing the likelihood of probate litigation, which can be emotionally fraught and disruptive for all involved.

Probate Administration

We appear regularly in Probate Courts throughout Connecticut and are well-versed in local variations in practice and procedure. We assist you through what can be a complex legal process, from the initial application to the final accounting and proposed distribution, and are dedicated to helping executors and trustees accomplish the necessary tasks involved in the administration of estates with efficiency. Throughout the process, we keep our clients informed and up-to-date, promptly addressing any concerns or questions, so that you are comfortable with how probate is proceeding and have a full understanding of your rights and responsibilities. Learn more about our probate administration services.

Probate Litigation

MZS represents beneficiaries, fiduciaries, and other parties in a variety of estate disputes, including will contests, trustee/beneficiary conflict of interest issues, breach of contract, foreclosure, collection, and partnership disputes. Whether litigating in the Probate Court, Connecticut Superior and Appellate Courts, or through an alternative dispute resolution method such as mediation, we bring our unique combination of skilled advocacy, a straightforward and practical legal approach, and personalized attention, to each matter we handle.

Even with careful planning and the best of intentions, inheritance disputes sometimes arise, and it is critical to have an experienced probate litigation attorney on your side. We represent individuals and families bringing or defending will contests based on, among other reasons, undue influence, improper execution, lack of competence, and fraud. We work closely with our clients to ensure that their rights are being protected and that the true wishes and intentions of their lost loved one are carried out justly and fairly.

Our experienced litigators will assist you through the will contest process, from filing or responding to an objection to the admission of the will, to appearing for a hearing in Probate Court to formally state the objections, investigating the claim, interviewing and coordinating expert witnesses, family members, and other fact witnesses, and then trying the case if necessary. Whether the will contest involves personal property, bank accounts, or real property, MZS attorneys will help you to resolve even the most complex challenges to a will with efficiency, compassion, and responsiveness.

For More Information

For more information on our Connecticut trusts and estates services, we welcome you to contact us.