Estate and Succession Planning

Dean Mead’s Estate and Succession Planning Team is one of the largest and most respected group of estate planning attorneys in Florida. We are frequently called on by accountants, other attorneys, banks, and trust companies to handle the most sophisticated estate planning, probate, and trust administration cases. The firm’s high level of expertise in those areas is evidenced by the fact that our members include:

A fellow in the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel
An adjunct professor of Estate Planning in the Graduate Tax Program at the University of Florida College of Law
Chair of the Tax Section of the Florida Bar
Chair of the Florida Bar Certification Committee for Wills, Trusts, and Estates
The Florida Bar Tax Section’s "Outstanding Tax Lawyer of the Year"
Three attorneys who are board certified as experts in Wills, Trusts, and Estates
Two attorneys who are board certified as experts in Tax law
Four attorneys who have a master of laws degree in taxation (LL.M.)

Our Estate and Succession Planning Team specializes in estate and trust administration matters and the development of estate plans which help our clients achieve maximum savings in income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes. We handle the traditional aspects of personal estate planning, such as the preparation of revocable trusts, wills, and irrevocable trusts. In addition, we work closely with our clients to plan for the succession of family businesses and wealth among generations in a tax efficient manner. We analyze and implement the latest techniques to reduce estate and gift taxes and preserve our clients’ wealth, including limited liability business entities such as family limited partnerships and limited liability companies, GRATS, and charitable remainder and lead trusts. Further, we assist our clients with the preparation of estate and gift tax returns, audits of those returns, and appeals to the IRS and courts to contest proposed tax deficiencies.

Our Estate and Succession Planning Team constantly monitors the latest developments in both tax and non-tax laws affecting our clients. We advise our clients on the income, gift, and estate tax consequences of charitable gifts and our Team has extensive experience in the establishment of private and publicly supported charitable organizations. We handle the negotiation and preparation of marital agreements and provide asset protection planning for individuals. Our Team has significant experience assisting land owners in multigenerational business succession planning while preserving land holdings. When necessary we represent fiduciaries and beneficiaries in court and mediation to settle disputes that arise during administration of a trust or estate.

We recognize that our client’s estate planning needs frequently require expertise in other areas of the law, so we work closely with attorneys in the firm’s other practice groups to provide our clients with the full service they need. We pride ourselves on utilizing the latest technology to provide exemplary service in an efficient and cost effective manner to our clients.

Areas of Experience
Asset Protection Planning
Business Succession Planning 
Charitable Giving 
Elder Law 
Estate, Gift and Generation Skipping Tax 
Limited Liability Business Entities
Probate and Guardianship 
Probate and Trust Litigation 
Tax Controversies and Audits 
Trust Administration 
Trust and Estate Income Taxation 
Wills and Trusts

Estate Planning Team Members

Estate Planning Articles