Practice Areas
“My relationship with clients is built on open communication and trust. I earn this trust by explaining legal issues to clients in a way that a non-lawyer can understand. I am also quick to advise my client’s when it’s not in their best interests to work with an attorney. By offering a listening ear and being proactive in my communication, my clients know they will be informed and educated about any strategic solution I recommend to further their needs.”
- LOCKSLEY A. RHODEN, ESQ., LL.M.
Asset Protection & Wealth Preservation
In this regards, we offer services that involve advising our clients about:
- Traditional U.S. Estate Planning
- Sophisticated U.S. Estate Planning
- Business Integrated Estate Planning
- Offshore Trust Planning
- LGBT Estate Planning
- Pre-Immigration Tax and Estate Planning
- Last Will and Testament
- Pour-Over Wills
- Codicils
- Funeral and Burial Arrangements
- Florida Durable Power of Attorney
- Florida Limited Power of Attorney
- Florida Living Will
- Florida Health Care Proxy
- Organ Donation
- Florida Trust Code
- Revocable Living Trusts
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
- Qualified Domestic Trusts
- Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts
- Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts
- Qualified Personal Residence Trusts
- Qualified Domestic Trust
- Qualified Subchapter S Trust
- Accounts
- Lifetime Gifting
- Testamentary Trusts
- Florida Land Trusts
- Special Needs Trusts
- Charitable Trusts
- Education Trusts
- Pet Trusts
- Pre-Marital and Divorce Planning
- Marital Agreements
- Prenuptial Agreements
- Postnuptial Agreements
- Annuities Planning
- Divorce Estate Planning
- Florida Homestead Rights
- Waiver of Florida Homestead Rights
- Beneficiary Designation
- Payable-On-Death (POD) Accounts
- Transfer-On-Death Accounts
- Establishment of Domicile
- Tenancy By The Entireties
- Joint Ownership
- Tenants in Common
- Charging Order Protection
- Convenience
“What motivates me is working with clients to create their legacy plan for transitioning family wealth from one generation to the next. After identifying their planning objectives, I am able to customize an estate plan solution to meet the client’s long-term vision for family, finances, real estate, business, creditors and taxes. Our legacy planning recommendations address and resolve any and all issues that keep our clients awake at night.”
- LOCKSLEY A. RHODEN, ESQ., LL.M.
Business Strategies & Succession Planning
Are you buying or selling a company? Are you merging your business with another company? Do you have employee, partner or investor concerns? Do you need to structure a joint venture?
Our attorneys provide a broad range of corporate counsel services designed to meet our client’s unique planning objectives and protect their business interests. Our strategic legal advice protects our clients personal and business interests from inception of the company through each stage of their company’s life cycle.
In this regard, our corporate counsel services involve:
- Business Start-Ups
- Choice of Entity
- Entity Formation
- Entity Dissolution
- Legal Ownership Structuring
- Shareholders’ Agreements
- Operating Agreements
- Partnership Agreements
- Family Limited Partnerships
- Limited Liability Companies
- Real Estate Management Structures
- Strategic Business Alliances
- Joint Venture Agreements
- Consulting Agreements
- Employment Agreements
- Independent Contractor Agreements
- Purchase and Sales Agreements
- Partner Buyouts and Separation
- Tax-Free Mergers & Acquisitions
- Stock and Asset Sales
- Split-Offs, Spin-Out and Split-Ups
- Stock Recapitalizations
- Promissory Notes
- Equity and Debt Financing Arrangements
- International Expansions
- Fictitious Name Branding
- Intellectual Property Licensing
- Business Succession
- Annual Meeting Minutes
- Retirement Planning and Deferred Compensation
- Confidentiality Agreements
- Nonsolicitation and Noncompetition Agreements
- Business Insurance
- Corporate Income Tax
- LOCKSLEY A. RHODEN, ESQ., LL.M.
Legal Structuring and Tax Planning
In This Regard, We Offer Services That Involve Advising Our Clients About:
- Complex Individual Tax Planning
- International Tax Business Planning
- Investment In U.S. Real Estate
- Expatriation Tax Planning
- Material Advisor IRS Audit
- State And Local Tax Planning
- International Taxes
- Tax Dispute Resolution
- Individual Estate and Income Tax Planning
- Executive Compensation
- Taxable And Tax-Free Mergers, Acquisitions, And Divestitures
- Business Formation and Choice of Entity
- Tax Qualified Plans
- Charitable Giving and Tax-Exempt Organizations
- Business acquisitions
- Business formations
- Commercial banking and finance
- Contract negotiations and preparation
- Dispositions and liquidations
- Employee benefits programs
- Executive compensation and retirement planning
- Federal and state taxation
- International transactions and trade
- Labor and employment issues
- Licensing, franchise, and distribution agreements
- Pension/profit-sharing plans
- Real estate acquisition and disposition
- Real estate development and finance
“What motivates me is working with clients to create their legacy plan for transitioning family wealth from one generation to the next. After identifying their planning objectives, I am able to customize an estate plan solution to meet the client’s long-term vision for family, finances, real estate, business, creditors and taxes. Our legacy planning recommendations address and resolve any and all issues that keep our clients awake at night.”
- LOCKSLEY A. RHODEN, ESQ., LL.M.
Wills, Trusts, & Estates Planning
In This Regard, We Offer Services That Involve Advising Our Clients About:
- Incapacity Planning
- Powers of Attorney
- Wills
- Family or Discretionary Trusts
- Probate Planning
- Tax Compliance
- Contesting or Varying Wills
- Estate Administration Disputes
- Trust Litigation
- Incapacity Disputes
- Spousal Rights
- Court Applications for Certificates
- Ascertaining The Assets of The Deceased
- Distribution to Beneficiaries
- Post-Mortem Tax Planning
- Trust Registration
- Inheritance Tax
- Vulnerable Beneficiaries
- LPA
- Later Life Care Costs
“To me, good legacy planning starts with understanding the planning motivations of the client. After assessing their planning goals, reviewing their assets and understanding their family dynamic, we work together with the client to tailor a plan to meet their needs and put their mind at ease. Nothing is more rewarding than building a collaborative relationship with my clients and giving them practical guidance to aid in with their decision making.”
- LOCKSLEY A. RHODEN, ESQ., LL.M.
Not-for-Profits & Tax-Exempt Organizations
Our most fulfilling and socially rewarding legal practice involves providing tax and legal solutions for our charitable and not-for- profit organization clients. Whether you are a founder or director of a tax-exempt business, public charity, church, religious organization, political organization or other professional, social or business club, we can advise your not-for-profit organization on a wide range of charitable business issues that may arise over the course of the organization’s existence.
In this regard, our not-for-profits corporate counsel services include:
- Not-For Profit Organization Review
- Obtaining Tax-Exempt Status
- Charitable Mission Development
- Charitable Business Planning
- Not-For Profit Organization Formation
- Public Charitable Organizations
- Private Operating Foundations
- Corporate Foundations
- Retroactive Reinstatement of Tax-Exempt Status
- Charitable Compensation Arrangements
- Florida Solicitation Registration
- Board Member Assembly
- Board Member Liability
- Not-For Profit Subsidiaries
- Public-Private Partnerships
- IRS Form 990 Annual Report Filing
- Stewardship and Major Gifts
- Not-For Profit Marketing
- Public Fundraising Strategies
- Online Fundraising
- Direct Mail Fundraising
- Online Fundraising
- Direct Mail Fundraising
- Planned Giving Fundraising
- Gaming Activities
- Endowment Funds
- Grant Applications
- Scholarship and Fellowship Programs
- Advocacy and Political Engagement
- Restrictions on Lobbying
- Private Benefits and Inurement
- Unrelated Business Income Tax
- Political Action Committees
- Strategic Fundraising Ideas
- Public Donor Gifting Programs
- Donor Acknowledgement
- Conflict of Interest Policy
- Charitable Scholarships
- Business Leagues
- Sports Leagues
- Social and Recreation Clubs
- Real Estate Investment Trusts
- Churches and Religious Organizations
- Scientific Organizations
- Libraries and Literary Organizations
- Conservation Organizations
- Community Trusts
- Schools, Colleges and Universities
- Professional Trade Schools
- Hospitals and Medical Research Organizations
- Low Income Housing
- Museums, Art Collection and Art Exhibition
- Zoos and Planetariums
- Promotion of the Arts, i.e., Orchestra, Opera, Ballet, Symphony
- Alumni and Amateur Athletic Organizations
- Public Interest Law Firms
- Trade Association
- Business League
- Children’s Day-Care Center
- Supporting Organizations
- Successor Organizations
- Not-for-profits Social Media Strategy
- Excise Strategies
“I reassure my clients that they are not alone during tough times, and that there are no problems, only solutions. After assessing their legal concerns, my role as counsel is to guide my clients on the most effective method and least resistant path to resolve their issue.”
- LOCKSLEY A. RHODEN, ESQ., LL.M.
IRS Representation & Tax Controversy
In addition to reviewing legal considerations, we believe proactive income tax and estate tax planning to be an important consideration before entering into any personal or business transaction. Whether offering comprehensive guidance on tax ramifications, tax compliance or resolving IRS disputes, our attorneys understand the tax code and IRS procedures and are trained to identify issues that affect the taxpayer’s bottomline with regard to:
Whether you are a surviving spouse, personal representative, trustee or beneficiary, we are able to advise you during the administration process on matters involving:
- Probating Wills in Testate Estates
- Probating Intestate Estates
- Post Mortem Trust Administration
- Florida Summary Administration
- Florida Formal Administration
- Florida Ancillary Administration
- Advising Personal Representatives and Trustees
- Surviving Spouse Inheritance Rights
- Beneficiary Inheritance Rights
- Florida Elective Share Rights
- Estate Inheritance Disputes
- Inheritance Rights of Heirs at Law
- Inheritance Rights of Beneficiaries
- Mediation of Inheritance Conflicts
- Qualification of Personal Representative
- Substitution or Removal of Personal Representative
- Compensation of Personal Representative
- Marshalling Probate Assets
- Freezing Probate Assets
- Opening Safe Deposit Boxes
- Sale of Estate Real Property
- Negotiating Creditor Claims
- Florida Homestead Determination
- Florida Exempt Property
- Pretermitted Spouse
- Pretermitted Children
- Disposition of Personal Property
- Postmortem Income Tax Planning
- Will and Trust Clause Interpretation
- Federal Gift and Estate Tax
- Federal Estate Tax Exemption Portability
- Florida Estate Taxes
- Lost or Destroyed Will
- Will Contests
- Will Reformation
- Trust Modification
- Trust Accountings
- Trust Reformation and Modification
- Trust Decanting
- Trust Termination
- Trust Litigation
- Corporate Trustees
- Attorneys’ Fees Disputes
- Abuse of Confidential Relationships
- Fiduciary Duty of Personal Representative
- Fiduciary Duty of Trustee
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- Testamentary Capacity
- Undue Influence, Fraud and Duress
“I reassure my clients that they are not alone during tough times, and that there are no problems, only solutions. After assessing their legal concerns, my role as counsel is to guide my clients on the most effective method and least resistant path to resolve their issue.”
- LOCKSLEY A. RHODEN, ESQ., LL.M.
International Tax & Foreign Trust Planning
Do you own equitable assets in your individual name? Do you have potential creditor concerns? Do you own assets or earn income outside the U.S.? Have you prepared your Last Will and Testament with plan to transition ownership of your assets? Are you a candidate for a family Trust?
As your family trust and estate planning counsel, we will work with you to answers these questions and devise an estate plan in accordance with state laws that will transition your estate to your love ones according to terms of your Last Will or family trust. It is our primary goal to help you keep control your personal wealth and assure it is inherited by your beneficiaries with minimal tax liability and exposure to unforeseeable creditors.
In this regard, we offer services that involve advising our clients about:
- Traditional U.S. Estate Planning
- Sophisticated U.S. Estate Planning
- Business Integrated Estate Planning
- Offshore Trust Planning
- LGBT Estate Planning
- Pre-Immigration Tax and Estate Planning
- Last Will and Testament
- Pour-Over Wills
- Codicils
- Funeral and Burial Arrangements
- Florida Durable Power of Attorney
- Florida Limited Power of Attorney
- Florida Living Will
- Florida Health Care Proxy
- Organ Donation
- Florida Trust Code
- Revocable Living Trusts
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
- Qualified Domestic Trusts
- Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts
- Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts
- Qualified Personal Residence Trusts
- Qualified Domestic Trust
- Qualified Subchapter S Trust
- Testamentary Trusts
- Florida Land Trusts
- Special Needs Trusts
- Charitable Trusts
- Education Trusts
- Pet Trusts
- Pre-Marital and Divorce Planning
- Marital Agreements
- Prenuptial Agreements
- Postnuptial Agreements
- Annuities Planning
- Divorce Estate Planning
- Florida Homestead Rights
- Waiver of Florida Homestead Rights
- Beneficiary Designation
- Payable-On-Death (POD) Accounts
- Transfer-On-Death Accounts
- Establishment of Domicile
- Tenancy By the Entireties
- Joint Ownership
- Tenants in Common
- Charging Order Protection
- Convenience Accounts
- Lifetime Gifting
“I reassure my clients that they are not alone during tough times, and that there are no problems, only solutions. After assessing their legal concerns, my role as counsel is to guide my clients on the most effective method and least resistant path to resolve their issue.”
- LOCKSLEY A. RHODEN, ESQ., LL.M.
Probate, Trust & Estate Administration
In addition to reviewing legal considerations, we believe proactive income tax and estate tax planning to be an important consideration before entering into any personal or business transaction. Whether offering comprehensive guidance on tax ramifications, tax compliance or resolving IRS disputes, our attorneys understand the tax code and IRS procedures and are trained to identify issues that affect the taxpayer’s bottom-line with regard to:
In This Regards, We Offer Services That Involve Advising Our Clients About:
- Tax Aspects of Business Planning
- Tax Aspects of Pass Thru Entities
- Tax Memorandum and Opinions
- U.S. Estate Tax Minimization Planning
- U.S. Income Tax Minimization Planning
- Pre-U.S. Immigration Estate Tax Planning
- LGBT Income and Estate Tax Planning
- Federal Gift & Estate Tax Planning
- State Tax Incentives
- State and Local Tax Planning
- Independent Contractor Analysis
- Foreign Bank Account Reporting
- Offshore Voluntary Disclosure
- Non-U.S. Resident Tax Compliance Analysis
- Foreign Diplomat Tax Compliance Analysis
- Revenue Ruling Requests
- Back Tax Debt Settlements
- Installment Agreement Payment Plans
- Offers In Compromise
- Currently Not Collectible Status
- Unfiled Tax Return Compliance
- IRS Audit Representation
- IRS Audit Reconsideration
- IRS Collections Negotiations
- IRS Garnishment
- IRS Liens and Levies
- IRS Penalty Abatement
- Financial Hardship Consideration
- Innocent Spouse Relief
- Discharging Taxes in Bankruptcy
- Payroll Tax Liability
- Frozen Bank Accounts
- Tax Litigation Consultation
- Like-Kind Exchanges
- State and Local Tax Disputes
- Ad Valorem Real Property Tax
- Real Property Tax Appeals
- State Income and Property Tax Exemptions
- Florida Documentary Stamp Tax
- Florida Sales and Use Tax
- Florida Sales Tax Exemption Certificates
- Florida Solicitation Registration
- Florida Department of Revenue Representation
Stay in Touch
Contact
CALL US
Make a Call
(954)-332-2342 (direct)
305-749-0900 (office)
VISIT US
Our Location
401 E. Las Olas Blvd.
Suite 1400 (14th floor)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
