Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone PLC

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An International Law Firm
* Business
* Litigation + Trial
* Governments + Nonprofits
* Individuals + Families
* Global Reach

Estate Planning

Our attorneys in the U.S. and Canada counsel clients and prepare wills, revocable trusts and powers of attorney for financial and medical decisions. We create special needs and irrevocable trusts, including life insurance trusts and many other types of trusts for the benefit of children and other beneficiaries. Our substantial experience in estate and gift taxation, employee benefit matters, income taxation and business practice ensure comprehensive consideration of all relevant relationships. Where appropriate, our attorneys create family limited liability companies and partnerships, and create and counsel family offices. We also prepare individual and fiduciary income tax returns, estate tax returns and gift tax returns and, when necessary, represent clients and their interests in litigation, audits and Tax Court proceedings.

Many of our attorneys have advanced legal tax degrees which help us guide strategic decisions, maximize tax advantages and protect wealth, both for today and tomorrow. Our tax accountants and CPAs provide efficient, single-source, single-bill service, including tax return filings, saving clients time, money and headaches.

To provide greater clarity for clients, our legal documents are prepared efficiently and reguarly updated to reflect changes in the law. Miller Canfield’s firm-wide expertise in real estate, business transactions, family law, intellectual property, employment and pension issues, immigration, international law and other specialty areas, provide coordinated solutions to individualized and complex needs. Our foreign language capabilities translate into seamless service delivery for international clients.

Probate + Trust Administration

When a family member becomes incapacitated or dies, Miller Canfield attorneys are available to assist with all aspects of the administration of estates and trusts, including estate tax return preparation; all aspects of guardianships and conservatorships; preparation of final individual income tax, estate and trust income tax returns; as well as probate and ancillary probate proceedings; all aspects of guardianships and conservatorships; trust administration; audits; Tax Court proceedings; and all types of estate and trust litigation. Our complete legal services subsequent to a death include advising clients with respect to their rights and obligations as surviving spouses, trust beneficiaries or as a fiduciaries of estates or trusts.

Miller Canfield’s firm-wide expertise in real estate, business transactions, family law, intellectual property, employment and pension issues, immigration, international law and other specialty areas, provide coordinated solutions to individualized and complex needs. Our foreign language capabilities translate into seamless service delivery for international clients.

Succession Planning for Business Owners

Miller Canfield attorneys counsel families with respect to the ownership and disposition of closely held businesses, family limited partnerships, limited liability companies, the creation and operation of charitable trusts and foundations, the administration of substantial trust interests and gift programs. Our goal is to provide a coordinated approach to family business planning that combines sensitivity to the needs of our clients with minimizing taxes and preserving wealth.

We guide individuals and families through the intricacies of forming and organizing family partnerships and other entities, creating personal holding companies and gift programs, strategically accomplishing an adequate and appropriate succession plan for management of the business, recapitalization, preparing “buy-sell” agreements, planning for profit sharing and pension planning, and creating family offices, if needed.

Our attorneys represent clients in litigation matters, including will contests and claims against estates, proceedings involving trusts, conservatorships and other court matters that arise in connection with family businesses.

Wealth Transfer Planning

We consider a number of wealth transfer planning tools and concepts when counseling and advising our high net worth clients. We help clients select the form of trust, transfer or business entity that best serves the intended purpose in each individual or family circumstance, including:
* Irrevocable Trusts
* Qualified Personal Residence Trusts
* Charitable Trusts
* Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts
* Intentionally Defective Trusts
* Promissory Notes
* Generation Skipping Transfers
* Family Parnerships/LLCs

Many of our attorneys have advanced legal tax degrees and generations of trust experience which help us guide strategic decisions, maximize tax advantages and protect the wealth of our clients. Our tax accountants and CPAs provide efficient, single-source, single-bill service, including tax return filings which save clients time, money and headaches.

Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone PLC
150 W Jefferson Ave #2500
Detroit MI 48226-4415
Tel: 313 963-6420
Fax: 313 496-7500