Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

The term "trusts and estates" is misleadingly narrow. Our Wills, Trusts & Estates practice group offers counsel and advice in the full range of planning for and administration of death and disability events. On the planning side, we help individuals craft estate plans that address their unique needs, with wills and trusts being only two of a broad range of tools that may be employed to that end. On the administration side, we represent beneficiaries, heirs, and fiduciaries (including corporate fiduciaries) in all the myriad issues that arise, including asset disposition and distribution, funding, tax issues and elections, joint and partial ownership issues, and disputes among and between beneficiaries and fiduciaries. We have extensive litigation experience, and while resolution outside that arena is always preferable (especially where family relationships are involved), we are prepared to pursue judicial resolution in those cases where it is the best, or only, option. We firmly believe that legal representation in this arena must be focused on the specific persons involved and the issues that are important to them. We do not sell “canned” estate plans. While taxation issues are always important, we do not believe they should be the driving force in every estate situation. We recognize that the "traditional family" is largely a fiction; every family is unique. The efficient transfer of wealth at death is but one issue; concerns regarding guardianship of minors and incapacitated adults, delegation of financial and medical decision-making in the event of incapacity, children from other marriages, and the unique needs of physically or mentally challenged family members are merely a few of the other issues that arise. Practice in this area is inseparable from business and real estate issues, and we are able to offer counseling on those matters as a part of our planning and administration services.

Focus Areas

Within this area of the law, we perform a variety of services and address a number of issues including:

• Preparation of Wills, Inter Vivos Trusts, and Powers of Attorney

• Life Insurance planning and administration

• Qualified Retirement Plan issues

• Special Needs Trusts and other Disability Planning

• Business Entity Selection and Administration

• Buy-Sell Agreements and Funding Issues

• Estate Dispute Resolution, in non-judicial and judicial forums

• Selection of Fiduciaries

• Lifetime Transfers and Gifts

Since the firm’s inception, HBS has embraced the value of diversity, and we continue to cultivate an environment of inclusion and success for all individuals.  We are committed to a cohesive and productive work environment where our varied cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities, and perspectives are communicated, understood, and embraced to enrich our employees and best serve our clients.

Our Commitment
Our efforts to enhance our diverse environment are not restricted to minority employees.  Instead, we believe that everyone, regardless of his or her race, age, or gender, must be included in our diversity mission in order to ensure its success.   The firm’s Diversity Committee is comprised of partners and senior staff members who ensure our diversity mission is not just a sentiment but is also a part of the fabric of HBS.     

HBS actively participates in a variety of events and sponsorships geared towards highlighting the importance of diversity, and the firm continuously seeks opportunities to enhance our diversity program.  This includes involvement with organizations such as the Corporate Counsel for Women of Color and the Minority Corporate Counsel of America as well as our internal mentor/protégé program, in which our senior, female and minority attorneys reach out and mentor other women and minority attorneys and clients.