Strategic & Personalized Estate Planning Tailored to Your Needs

Our team of sophisticated estate planning attorneys is here to help your concerns and implement a strategic and tailored plan. Whether you are hoping to minimize estate tax liabilities or make strategic gift-planning decisions, we are dedicated to finding the best solutions for your unique circumstances. With our experience and personalized approach, you can trust that your estate and gift tax planning needs are in good hands. Contact Strauss Attorneys, PLLC today for all your estate planning needs in North or South Carolina.

Put Your Trust in Our Advanced Estate Planning Specialists

When you require estate tax and gift tax planning, you must work with attorneys who have extensive knowledge and experience in this area of law. At Strauss Attorneys, PLLC, our attorneys specialize in estate planning and have helped numerous clients protect their assets in consideration of estate tax laws.

We understand that every individual and family has unique circumstances and financial goals. That's why we take a personalized approach to estate tax and gift tax planning. Our team of experts will work closely with you to assess your situation, understand your goals, and develop a comprehensive strategy tailored to your needs.

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What Our Clients Say

Efficient. Courteous. Professional. Thorough. Educative. Detailed.
Lee did a great job guiding us through the process.

D.H. & E.H. – Candler, NC

We found it a pleasant experience, not the ordeal we thought it would be.

N.H. & M.H. – Flat Rock, NC

Very professional. Prompt service.

D.B. & B.B. – Pisgah Forest, NC

Very professional, objective and precise, yet presented in easy to understand language.

E.M. & J. M. – Brevard, NC

I sincerely thank all of you and I feel comfortable concerning my will.

S.H. – Asheville, NC

Strauss Attorneys PLLC does a terrific job of estate administration.

B.A. – Waynesville, NC

Reinstatement of our trust since moving from CA. Brad. Alex and Kim were so welcoming and professional in every way including some very personal issues with family members. Brad...

Mark & Kathy Willard

I need help with a final accounting and I think I’ve found the right person.

Robert Todd Dorsey

Our experience with Strauss Attorneys PLLC in Hendersonville, North Carolina has been nothing short of fantastic. At our age, we were long overdue to generate a Will or Trust to...

RK

Andy Strauss is the best. He’s smart, caring, a good listener, a clear communicator, and collaborative. Highly recommend him.

L — Asheville, NC

I needed to get a document notarized and it was a wonderful experience. The professionalism was outstanding with an extremely knowledgeable young lady.

Richard Ehlers

I was taken care of very well. James Fleming was polite and well knowledged.

L.H., Hendersonville, NC

Very friendly, informative, and thorough. All personel seem very professional.

Anonymous, Hendersonville, NC

We felt important and have had for years a good relationship with Lee Mulligan

Wiley & Betty, Hendersonville, NC

I have been particularly impressed with the thoroughness of document preparation and explanations in writing of what I should do to maximize the provisions & benefits of my ...

P.A., Hendersonville, NC

Professional assistance in a friendly atmosphere!

William & Linda, Hendersonville, NC

I was unaware of the document called a Living Trust until I attended a seminar presented by Lee Mulligan comparing the advantages of a trust with those of a traditional will. At...

Anonymous, Hendersonville, NC

Our experience was wonderful. Spoke with a language we both could understand and digest. You are a keeper.

MZ & BZ, Hendersonville, NC

Forming a trust for my family was a great experience with Mr. Henry’s professional and personal approach. I felt well informed and treated with the utmost respect. I appre...

PA, Hendersonville, NC

The experience & staff were courteous, professional, and we got what we needed.

GG & NG, Hendersonville, NC

Brad Henry was brilliant and precise. We highly recommend him.

DC & EC, Hendersonville, NC

Impeccable knowledge of NC Trusts & Wills. Difficult questions answered clearly and easily

WH, Hendersonville, NC

Great experience. Brad took time to explain everything thoroughly and was very thoughtful with looking at our entire situation. Grateful to him and the team that supports him.

Adam & Stephannie, Hendersonville, NC

Brad was very helpful in explaining the whole legal process – Brad explained the whole process in a very clear and understandable manner – Two notaries were very eff...

RL & NT, HEndersonville, NC

Our attorney, Lee Mulligan, and the staff were professional, courteous, and friendly.

D. R., Hendersonville, NC

Our experience was pleasurable, informative, emotionally satisfying, and confident that we are in good hands. Everyone is always courteous, helpful, considerate, and caring. The...

Burton and Doris, Hendersonville, NC

I have always been made to feel welcome and very well cared for by a most professional team of kind people who know their business well. Lee Mulligan in particular!

Anonymous, Hendersonville, NC

Professional, congenial, comforting. We have confidence in what you’ve done for us.

Steven & Carmon, Hendersonville, NC

We felt Brad welcomed us, educated us and made himself available for clarifications.

Sandy, Hendersonville, NC

Even though I feel intimidated by the “Big Book”, Lee was thorough in her explanations.

Nancy Pew, Hendersonville, NC

Lee explained everything in terms we could understand and the chart she drew was very helpful. We are confident our children will be well advised when settling our estate.

J.E. & B.E., Hendersonville, NC

We had a series of issues that Brad was able to incorporate into the discussion and explain the implications of each.

Cindy & Pam, Hendersonville, NC

Restatement of my trust was a stressless experience- Felt very comfortable with Brad & staff.

J.H., Hendersonville, NC
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Estate Tax and Gift Tax Strategies

At Strauss Attorneys, PLLC, we offer a wide range of estate tax and gift tax strategies to protect and preserve your assets. Here are some of the strategies we can implement:

Intra-family Loans

An intra-family loan is a low-interest loan made to a family member. This strategy allows you to transfer assets to your loved ones while minimizing gift tax liabilities. By structuring the loan properly, you can take advantage of lower interest rates and preserve your wealth for future generations.

Spousal Gifting Trusts

A spousal gifting trust is a trust established to hold assets that will eventually pass to the surviving spouse. This strategy allows you to make tax-free gifts to your spouse while still maintaining control over the assets during your lifetime. The trust provides estate tax protection and ensures that your loved ones are taken care of.

Simple and Advanced Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) Strategies

A Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) is a trust that allows you to transfer assets to your beneficiaries while minimizing gift tax liabilities. With a GRAT, you retain an annuity payment for a specified period, after which the remaining assets pass to your beneficiaries. We can help you determine whether a simple or advanced GRAT strategy is right for you.

Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRT)

A Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) is a trust that allows you to transfer your primary residence or vacation home to your beneficiaries while minimizing gift tax liabilities. By transferring the property to a QPRT, you can retain the right to live in the residence for a specified period and still pass it on to your loved ones without triggering gift taxes.

Leveraged Installment Note Sales to Irrevocable Grantor Trusts

Leveraged installment note sales to irrevocable grantor trusts are a sophisticated estate planning strategy that allows you to transfer assets to your beneficiaries while minimizing gift tax liabilities. This strategy involves selling assets to an irrevocable grantor trust in exchange for an installment note. The note can be structured in a way that leverages the transfer of wealth to your beneficiaries.

Self-Cancelling Installment Notes

A self-cancelling installment note (SCIN) is a type of promissory note that cancels the remaining debt upon the death of the note holder. This estate planning strategy allows you to transfer assets to your beneficiaries while minimizing gift tax liabilities. The SCIN can be structured to provide income for your beneficiaries while still preserving your wealth.

Private Annuities

A private annuity is a contractual agreement between you and a family member or trusted individual. This strategy allows you to transfer assets to your beneficiaries while providing them with a lifetime stream of income. By structuring the annuity properly, you can minimize gift tax liabilities and ensure the financial security of your loved ones.

Insurance and Life Insurance Trusts

Life insurance can be an effective tool for estate tax and gift tax planning. By purchasing a life insurance policy and transferring it to an irrevocable life insurance trust, you can provide your beneficiaries with a tax-free death benefit that can be used to pay estate taxes or provide for their financial needs.

Alaska Dynasty Trusts

An Alaska dynasty trust is a powerful estate planning tool that allows you to establish a trust that can preserve and protect your family's wealth for multiple generations. By utilizing Alaska's favorable trust laws, you can ensure that your assets are shielded from estate taxes and other potential liabilities.

Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Planning

The generation-skipping transfer tax (GSTT) is a tax on transfers of assets that skip a generation, such as gifts or bequests to grandchildren. By implementing generation-skipping transfer tax planning strategies, you can pass your wealth to future generations while minimizing estate and gift tax liabilities.

The Zero-ed Out Estate Tax Plan

The zero-ed out estate tax plan is a strategy that aims to reduce your estate tax liability to zero. This plan involves making lifetime gifts and using other estate planning techniques to effectively utilize your available lifetime gift tax exemption and reduce your estate's taxable value.

Plan with Confidence, Protect What Matters

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Reducing Your Tax Burden through Estate Tax and Gift Tax Planning

Why pay an excessive amount of estate taxes when legal remedies are available to reduce your overall tax obligations? Estate taxes only serve to deplete the money you worked so hard to earn. Our job is to minimize their impact so more of your money stays with your loved ones.

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Our Team: Certified and Award-Winning Attorneys

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Andrew A. Strauss Partner, Board-Certified Specialist

With over four decades of experience, Andy takes a comprehensive approach, guiding clients through everything from basic will preparation to complex trust structures and business succession planning.

  • Top-Rated Lawyer in Trust & Estates
  • Member of the North Carolina, Florida, and Pennsylvania State Bars
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Lee C. Mulligan Partner, Attorney at Law

With a keen eye for detail and a client-focused approach, Lee helps individuals and families safeguard their legacies, minimize tax burdens, and confidently navigate complex legal matters.

  • President of Summit Title Insurance in Hendersonville, NC.
  • Numerous non-profit board services in New Jersey and North Carolina
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Cory Howes Partner, Attorney at Law

Cory combines legal expertise with a strong financial background in tax, investments, and insurance. His practice is centered around a deep commitment to assisting families with their estate planning and administration needs.

  • North Carolina Bar Association
  • Virginia Bar Association
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Larry S. Hartley Partner, Board-Certified Specialist

A former U.S. Naval Diving and Salvage Officer, Larry brings dedication and expertise to protecting seniors and their families, with a focus on estate planning, Medicaid, and veterans benefits.

  • Member, North Carolina Bar Association
  • Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
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Brad Henry Partner, Attorney at Law

With over a decade of experience practicing law, Brad brings extensive expertise in estate planning, guardianships, fiduciary litigation, and probate and trust administration, as well as a dedication to helping clients protect their legacies.

  • AV Preeminent® rating by Martin Dale Hubbell
  • Florida’s Real Property and Probate Trust Law (RPPTL) Section
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Peter McGuire Partner, Attorney at Law

Leading our estate and fiduciary litigation team, Peter has practiced law in Western NC. since 2002 and specializes in trust and estate disputes, advanced planning, and business succession.

  • Member of the North Carolina Bar Association
  • Inaugural Member of the Harry C. Martin American Inn of Court
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Daire Roebuck Attorney at Law

With nearly two decades of experience, Daire guides clients through estate planning with clarity and compassion. Dedicated to giving back, she actively supports pro bono initiatives and community advocacy.

  • Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law Section, North Carolina Bar Association, since 2008
  • North Carolina Bar Admission
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James B. Fleming Attorney at Law

Inspired by witnessing seniors’ challenges, James is passionate about guiding families through estate planning and elder law. Through Wills for Heroes, he proudly provides essential estate planning services to first responders.

  • North Carolina Bar Admission, 2019
  • South Carolina Bar Admission, 2021
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Samantha Reichle Attorney at Law

With nearly two decades of experience, Samantha specializes in estate planning, trust administration, and fiduciary income tax matters. She has a unique ability to make complex estate planning discussions approachable.

  • North Carolina Bar Admission, 2013
  • Member, 10th Judicial District Bar
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Consult Our Advanced Estate Planning Lawyers About Estate Tax and Gift Tax Strategies

Estate tax and gift tax planning can be complex and overwhelming. That's why it's important to consult with experienced estate planning attorneys who can guide you through the process and help you make informed decisions. At Strauss Attorneys, PLLC, we have a team of advanced estate planning lawyers who are dedicated to finding the best strategies for your unique circumstances.

Contact Strauss Attorneys, PLLC today to schedule a consultation with our experienced estate planning attorneys.

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Let’s Start Planning Your Future Today

Whether you need to create a simple Will, protect your assets, or plan for your business, our team is here to help.

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