ESTATE PLANNING

At Sutherland, PLLC, we don't lose sight of the fact that the businesses we serve are only relevant because of the people, the flesh and blood human beings, who own and operate them. Ultimately, our practice is only relevant to the extent that we help individuals achieve their personal goals as founders, owners and managers of these business entities. In most areas of our practice, we represent corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies. Having a business entity as a client is different from representing an individual, because the existence of the business entity theoretically could continue forever. The lifespan of an individual person, however, is finite. The fact of our mortality creates the necessity to assist clients, the entrepreneurs who dream and build the businesses we serve, in addressing issues that arise because of their mortality.

Consequently, we seek to help our clients who are founders not only with the issues related to the businesses that they own and operate, but also with the issues that arise from the necessity to plan for end-of-life issues. Creating an estate plan is a very important decision. It is a serious matter with numerous, complex factors to be considered, everything from how a business is owned, avoiding probate court, planning for a special needs child, anticipating potential conflicts among heirs, granting authority for end-of-life decisions, and succession planning for the founder's business. We can guide you through these critical decisions with caring and collaborative counsel.

Unless otherwise indicated, lawyers are not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.