Heather J. Rhoades is Chairman of Cummings & Lockwood's Private Clients Group and is based in the West Hartford office. she practices in the areas of estate planning, estate settlement, trust administration and charitable planning. Heather is a member of the Firm's National Charitable Planning Group.
Professional Recognition
•The American College of Trusts & Estates Counsel ( ACTEC ), fellow
•Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, Notable Practitioner, 2017 - Present
•The Best Lawyers in America, 2013 - Present
•The Best Lawyers in America, 2016, 2019, 2021, Hartford Trusts & Estates Lawyer of the Year
•Connecticut and New England Super Lawyers, 2014 - Present, Rising Star, 2008 - 2013
Civic and Philanthropic Activity
•Trusts & Estates Magazine, Philanthropy Committee of the Editorial Advisory Board, Member
•Hartford Foundation, Public Giving Professional Advisory Committee, Former Member
Articles/Publications
• “Charitable Gifts: Ethical Concerns For all Professions: Part 2; Know your stuff, keep up-to-date and do the right thing,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, August 2024 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Heather J. Rhoades
• “Charitable Gifts: Ethical Concerns For all Professions; Avoiding sanctions, malpractice claims, IRS’ costly penalties, the slammer,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, May 2024 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Heather J. Rhoades
• “Tax-Wise Charitable Remainder Trust Planning; Getting it right; fixing up the other guy’s mistakes,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, December 2023 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Heather J. Rhoades
• “Issues Regarding Charitable Remainder Trusts; A deep dive into their complexities,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, November 2023 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Heather J. Rhoades
• “The Ugly Side of Charitable Remainder Trusts; IRS crackdown on abusive tax schemes,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, October 2023 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Heather J. Rhoades
• “Crucial Timing of Charitable Contributions Avoiding the ‘anticipatory assignment-of-income’ trap” Trusts & Estate Magazine, September 2022 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Heather J. Rhoades
• “Donors’ Charitable Pledges, The Ins and Outs,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, October 2021 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Brianna L. Marquis
• 'Contracts to Make a Will,' Trusts & Estates Magazine, September 2021 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Brianna L. Marquis
• 'No Thank You: Tax, Legal and Practical Consequences of Charitable Gifts Returned to Donors,' Trusts & Estates Magazine, January 2020 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Brianna L. Marquis
• 'Cryptocurrency - Estate and Charitable Planning and Compliance,' Trusts & Estates Magazine, January 2019, co-authored with Conrad Teitell and Katherine A. McAllister
• Power of Attorney, Connecticut, Practical Law Guide, co-author, Thomson Reuters
• Estate Tax: Connecticut, Practical Law Guide, co-author, Thomson Reuters
• Ancillary Estate Proceedings in Connecticut, Practical Law Guide, co-author, Thomson Reuters
• “Substantiating Charitable Deductions at the IRS,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, July 2017,co-authored with Conrad Teitell and Cara Howe Santoro
• “Charitable Remainder Trust Pitfalls,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, October 2015, co-author with Conrad Teitell
Articles
•Donors’ Charitable Pledges
• Contracts to Make a Will
• No Thank You: Tax, Legal and Practical Consequences of Charitable Gifts Returned to Donors
• Cryptocurrency - Estate and Charitable Planning and Compliance
• Substantiating Charitable Deductions at the IRS
• Gene Wilders Real-Life Golden Ticket
• Charitable Remainder Trust Pitfalls
• Termination of Charitable Remainder Trusts
Books & Guides
•Estate Tax in Connecticut
• Power of Attorney in Connecticut
• Ancillary Estate Proceedings in Connecticut
News & Press Releases
• 29 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in Connecticut for 2023
• West Hartford Office - 2023 Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch
• Cummings & Lockwood Garners the Top Spot in Private Wealth Law and Private Wealth Disputes in Connecticut in the Chambers 2021 High Net Worth Guide
• 35 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys in Connecticut and Florida Have Been Named Among The Best Lawyers in America for 2021, 2 Attorneys Received Lawyer of the Year Awards and 8 Attorneys Have Been Identified as the Ones to Watch
• Cummings & Lockwood Garners the Top Spot in Private Wealth Law in Connecticut in the 2020 High Net Worth Guide
• 24 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys Named in the 2020 Edition of Connecticut’s Best Lawyers
• 34 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys in Connecticut and Florida Named Among The Best Lawyers in America for 2020
• Cummings & Lockwood Garners the Top Spot in Private Wealth Law in the 2019 Chambers High Net Worth Guide
• Heather J. Rhoades and Kelley Galica Peck Selected as 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” Honorees by Best Lawyers
• Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys in Connecticut and Florida Named 2019 Best Lawyers in America
• 17 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys Have Been Named 2018 New England Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
• Cummings & Lockwood Recognized As One of the Leading Trusts and Estates Practices in Connecticut by Chambers & Partners
• 32 Cummings & Lockwood LLC Attorneys Named to 2018 Best Lawyers List
• 17 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys Have Been Named 2017 Connecticut Super Lawyers and 2017 Rising Stars
• 16 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys Have Been Named 2016 Connecticut Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
• 21 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys in Connecticut and Florida Named 2017 Best Lawyers in America
• Heather J. Rhoades Named Principal-in-Charge of Cummings & Lockwoods West Hartford, Connecticut Office
• Heather J. Rhoades Named 2016 Hartford Trusts & Estates Attorney of the Year
• Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys in Connecticut and Florida Named The Best Lawyers in America for 2016
• Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys in Connecticut and Florida Named The Best Lawyers in America for 2015
Videos
• An Introduction to Cummings & Lockwood's Private Clients Group
• Charitable Planning
