Bear Branch LLC offers a wide range of estate and trust tax services to help individuals, families, and business owners effectively manage their financial legacies. Our goal is to ensure your estate planning is thorough, tax-efficient, and aligned with your long-term goals.
Routine Reviews of Wills, Trusts, and Beneficiary Designations
Estate plans are not set-and-forget documents. Life changes—whether through marriage, the birth of children, changes in assets, or shifts in tax laws—require periodic updates. We conduct routine reviews of your wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations to ensure that your estate plan stays current and aligned with your wishes.
Adapting Financial Plans for Changing Circumstances
Life’s circumstances and tax laws are always evolving. Our team works with you to adapt your financial plan as personal or regulatory situations change, so you remain on track with your estate and tax strategies. Whether it’s changes in your health, wealth, or business, we ensure your plan evolves to meet your needs.
Business Succession Planning
For business owners, succession planning is an essential part of ensuring the longevity of your company and protecting your family’s financial future. We assist with developing business succession plans that outline how ownership will transition smoothly in the event of retirement, death, or other major life events.
Business Valuations
Accurate business valuations are key to estate planning, particularly when it comes to business succession or gift planning. We work with you to determine the fair market value of your business to facilitate gifting, estate distributions, and tax filings.
Gift Planning
Whether you're making charitable contributions or transferring assets to family members, gift planning is a critical aspect of estate planning. We help you structure gift-giving strategies that maximize tax benefits and align with your long-term goals.
Wealth Management and Financial Planning
Your estate plan should integrate seamlessly with your broader wealth management and financial planning goals. We collaborate with your wealth managers to ensure your estate plan complements your overall financial strategy, ensuring your legacy is well-managed and protected.
Tax Preparation and Filing
We provide comprehensive tax services, ensuring that your estate plan is both tax-efficient and compliant with all necessary regulations. Our tax preparation services include:
- Fiduciary Tax Returns: Preparation of Fiduciary Tax Forms (1041) for estates, trusts, and other entities.
- Federal Estate Tax Form (706): We assist with the preparation and filing of Federal Estate Tax Form 706, which is required when the estate value exceeds certain thresholds.
- Federal Gift Tax Form (709): We help you prepare and file Federal Gift Tax Form 709 for taxable gifts made during your lifetime.
- State Estate and Gift Tax Returns: In addition to federal filings, we assist with state-specific estate and gift tax returns, ensuring compliance with state-level tax laws.
