This page is intended as a convenience for clients with projects in progress. If you decide to become a client, information about our lawyer-client relationship, fees and billing will be provided at the end of our initial intake meeting.

If you are here out of concern for a relative or friend who I represent. let me use this opportunity to explain why I may seem reluctant to provide you with information or advice that you consider you should have to act on that concern.

Thoughts on relations with clients and others

I often deal with family estate planning with couples, assist and advise agents or trustees at times when the principal (who often is my client) has lost the capacity to self-manage, or assisting survivors with the administration of family member. It is important to be aware of the professional boundaries to my interactions with other family members, beneficiaries) or others who are closely affected by the work being done for my client. Information-sharing often is impeded by my duty to keep client matters confidential.

For example, if my client has become incapacitated, common sense suggests that I should readily assist those close to her or him who are most concerned about the client's welfare and who wish to help in good faith. Obviously, family members who "step up" when their mother, father, spouse or other close relative or friend is in need consider that I must be part of that helping team and, therefore, I should freely share information and assist them directly in their good faith efforts to maximize the client's care, comfort and welfare.

If you find yourself in this situation and don't understand why I cannot be as helpful to you in caring for the client's best interests, please bring that to my attention so that I have the opportunity to explain the limitations imposed by my legal responsibilities to my client and, hopefully, how we can work around them to achieve the benefits we all hope to give to the client.

Thank you for understanding! (More detailed information on this subject may be found on the "Important Disclaimers" page.)