Retirement Assets and Beneficiary Planning
IRAs, 401(k)s and other qualified plans require coordinated beneficiary designations, trust provisions, distribution strategy and income-tax analysis.
New Jersey Inheritance Tax Planning
Ownership, beneficiary structure and lifetime transfers are reviewed to reduce unnecessary inheritance-tax exposure while preserving flexibility.
Federal Estate, Gift and Income Tax Planning
For higher-net-worth families, the firm develops structures around transfer-tax exposure, liquidity, basis, cash flow and family objectives.
Business Succession Planning
Buy-sell agreements, ownership transitions and tax-efficient succession structures align the estate plan with the future of a closely held business.
Leonard Hardesty combines an LL.M. in Taxation, an M.B.A. in Accounting and more than 25 years of legal experience. Clients work directly with him. Planning begins with the family, assets, tax exposure and business objectives, then coordinates the legal documents, beneficiary designations and implementation steps. The firm works with accountants, financial advisers and other professionals when appropriate.
Initial consultations are 60 minutes and require a $650 payment to confirm. The fee is non-refundable and the appointment is reschedulable, subject to availability. If the firm is engaged, the $650 is credited toward attorney time actually expended at applicable hourly rates. Representation begins only after completion of an existing-client conflict check and execution of a written engagement agreement. Consultations are conducted by telephone or in person. Video consultations are not offered.