Personal Injury Award Planning

Personal injury awards or settlements usually result from life-altering circumstances. In such situations, beneficiaries and their families require specialized planning. We have substantial experience in working with personal injury attorneys during the settlement process to create a plan for the proceeds that will best meet the injured party's needs. We assist in the determination of whether to take the settlement in a lump sum or to use a portion of the proceeds to purchase a tax-favored annuity. We have experience in establishing qualified settlement trusts under Section 468B of the Internal Revenue Code to facilitate settlement when there are multiple parties involved in tort litigation. Once a personal injury settlement is reached, we have significant experience in creating the appropriate trust to hold the proceeds, keeping in mind our clients' needs to fund ongoing care, as well as their education, family, and other needs.

Our trusts and estates attorneys have lectured and written extensively on the use of trusts and other planning instruments in personal injury situations, and we are also well versed in dealing with the ever-changing income tax consequences of personal injury awards.

Representative Matters