Dean Mead

Dean Mead’s Estate and Succession Planning Department 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.

Our Estate and Succession Planning lawyers specialize 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 Department constantly monitors the latest developments in both tax and non-tax laws affecting our clients. We share weekly updates about regional and national issues, legal trends and key legislation on our Florida Trusts and Estates Blog at http://www.floridatrustsestatesblog.com.

We advise our clients on the income, gift, and estate tax consequences of charitable gifts and our attorneys have 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. Attorneys in our Department have 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 clients’ estate planning needs frequently require expertise in other areas of the law, so we work closely with Dean Mead’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 service:

• 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 Seminar Highlights

On June 21, 2011 the Dean Mead Estate Planning department hosted an Estate Planning Seminar for nearly 100 guests at the Orange County Bar Association where they discussed the 2011 Florida Legislative Update.

Lauren Detzel, Brian Malec, Matt Ahearn, Jane Callahan and David Akins, respectively spoke about the “Olmstead Fix”; Inherited IRAs in Florida; The New Florida Power of Attorney Act; Florida Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act; and the New Legislation Affecting Estates and Trusts. The Estate Planning team is also managing a blog, http://www.floridatrustsestatesblog.com.

Watch the entire series…