Areas of Practice
Estate Planning
Planning for what happens beyond your lifetime can be daunting, but it's critical to protecting yourself, your loved ones and your assets. At Crisp Cherry McCraw we look deep and develop a clear understanding of your unique circumstances and needs as we help you create an estate plan. More than attorneys, we become trusted partners who are as invested in your objectives as you are.
We offer expertise and assistance with all elements of estate plans including:
- Wills
- Revocable Trusts
- Durable Financial Powers of Attorney
- Health Care Powers of Attorney
- Advance Directives for a Natural Death
For clients with significant wealth, we craft a customized plan that will ensure continued prosperity across multiple generations, including recommending strategies such as annual gifting, use of the applicable exclusion amount, credit shelter trusts, life insurance trusts, charitable trusts, or the use of family entities to transfer wealth from one generation to the next.
Estate Administration/Probate
Estate administration (often called probate) is the process by which beneficiaries of a will, or heirs at law of a decedent without a will, receive their assets. Probate is a court process that is primarily handled by the personal representative of the estate (the Executor named in a will or the Administrator when a decedent dies without a will). Estate administration can feel cumbersome and complicated to a personal representative who does not have experience with the process. Our firm provides guidance, representation, and answers to questions, ultimately saving all beneficiaries of the estate unnecessary complications and expenses in the process. If you are the named personal representative of an estate, our attorneys can assist you understand your responsibilities so that you limit your own personal liability in that role.
In addition to probate assets, some estates are comprised of assets that avoid probate. Examples include jointly owned accounts, assets that have named beneficiaries, and assets titled in the name of a trust prior to the decedent's death. Our attorneys will advise you of the extent to which probate is needed, and they also can assist with trust administration when applicable.
Personal and Business Disputes and Civil Litigation
Navigating the legal system when disputes with other individuals or businesses arise can be both stressful and time consuming. We represent individuals and businesses in state, appellate and federal court in cases ranging from simple to complex. Whether the case can be settled in a dispute resolution setting such as arbitration or mediation, or if it is necessary to try the case with a judge and jury, we provide strong, effective representation in the pursuit and protection of our clients' interests.
Business Formation, Contracts and Business Succession Planning
Forming a new business can be both exciting and challenging. We understand that each business is unique, and the legal entity of the business depends on a number of factors. Regardless of the size of the new venture, we help our clients achieve their business goals. For existing businesses we are available to help protect our clients’ interests by drafting and negotiating agreements, representing our clients as they navigate business disputes, and helping with the transfer of ownership of existing businesses, being mindful of existing family and business relationships while also minimizing the tax consequences of the ownership transition.
Commercial Real Estate
Crisp, Cherry, McCraw can represent you or your family in the acquisition and sale of commercial real estate. We offer expertise in all areas of commercial real estate, including property acquisition and disposition, leasing, financing, tax issues and form‐of‐ownership issues.