Practice Areas

Overview of our areas of practice and area of focus.

Adoptions, Guardianships and Conservatorships

This firm handles Adoptions, Guardianships, and Conservatorships in the counties of Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai.

Step-Parent Adoption

Termination of Parental Rights and Adoption

Private Adoptions

Adoptions from Foster Care

International Adoption

Minor Guardianships

Guardianships and Conservatorships for Protected/Incapacitated Persons

Guardian ad Litem and Attorney for Protected/Incapacitated Persons

and Minor Children

Bankruptcy

This firm handles business and commercial Chapter 7, 11, and 13 proceedings and litigation throughout the state and the region.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 entitled Liquidation, contemplates an orderly, court-supervised procedure by which a trustee takes over the assets of the debtor's estate, reduces them to cash, and makes distributions to creditors, subject to the debtor's right to retain certain exempt property and the rights of secured creditors our firm is available to represent business related Chapter 7 proceedings. Chapter 7

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 entitled Reorganization, ordinarily is used by commercial enterprises that desire to continue operating a business and repay creditors concurrently through a court-approved plan of reorganization. The chapter 11 debtor usually has the exclusive right to file a plan of reorganization for the first 120 days after it files the case and must provide creditors with a disclosure statement containing information adequate to enable creditors to evaluate the plan. The court ultimately approves (confirms) or disapproves the plan of reorganization. Under the confirmed plan, the debtor can reduce its debts by repaying a portion of its obligations and discharging others. The debtor can also terminate burdensome contracts and leases, recover assets, and rescale its operations in order to return to profitability. Under chapter 11, the debtor normally goes through a period of consolidation and emerges with a reduced debt load and a reorganized business. Chapter 11

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 entitled Adjustment of Debts of an Individual With Regular Income, is designed for an individual debtor who has a regular source of income. Chapter 13 is often preferable to chapter 7 because it enables the debtor to keep a valuable asset, such as a house, and because it allows the debtor to propose a "plan" to repay creditors over time – usually three to five years. Chapter 13 is also used by debtors who do not qualify for chapter 7 relief. Chapter 13

Business and Corporate

This firm handles Real Estate matters throughout the state and the region including but not limited to:

Formation and related organizational documents for Limited Liability Companies, Corporations, Partnerships, and more.

Transfer entities from a foreign state to Idaho

Dissolution and Winding Up Organizations

Contract Review and Drafting of Commercial Agreements

Corporate Tax

Succession Planning

Business Acquisition and Sales

Estate Planning and Probate

This firm handles Estate Planning and Probate Proceedings throughout the state and the region.

Complete Estate Planning: Wills and Trusts to suit your individual needs along with powers of attorney for medical and financial decisions to provide piece of mind for life’s unforeseen events.

Probate Proceedings: Not every estate needs probate but this firm offers consultations to determine what type of proceeding, if any, will best fit each situation.

Informal Probate: Most probates and matters of intestacy can be handled in an Informal Probate proceeding where the Personal Representative does not have to attend any court hearings and unless there are unique characteristics to the estate can be resolved between six and twelve months after filing the Informal Probate.

Formal Probate: In cases where there are unique situations or potential disputes a formal probate may be required.

Decree’s Vesting Property in Surviving Spouse: A simple process that generally is completed within one month of filing that allows a surviving spouse take title to the property of the deceased spouse without a complete probate proceeding. There are advantages and disadvantages to this process and this firm can help a surviving spouse make that determination.

Determination of Heirs to Resolve Title Issues: A process used when the time period for probate has lapsed and heirs need to clear title to real property held by an estate.

Business Succession Planning

Charitable Remainder and Lead Trust

Defending IRS Estate Tax Audits

Family Limited Liability Companies

Gifting Programs

Generation Skipping Transfers

Qualified Plan and IRA Distribution Planning

Probate and Trust Litigation of Beneficiary and Trustee Disputes

Will Contests

Litigation

This firm handles Litigation matters including but not limited to:

Banking Issues

Contract and Complex Commercial Issues

Debt Collection

Real Estate Issues

Probate and Trust Litigation

Tax Litigation

Mediation

Mediation is a process in which a third-party neutral assists in resolving a dispute between two or more parties. It is a non-adversarial approach to conflict resolution. The role of the mediator is to facilitate communication between the parties, assist them in focusing on the real issues of the dispute, and generate options that meet the interests or needs of relevant parties in an effort to resolve the conflict.

Unlike arbitration, where the intermediary listens to the arguments of both sides and makes a decision for the disputants, a mediator assists the parties to develop a solution for themselves. Although mediators sometimes provide ideas, suggestions, or even formal proposals for settlement, the mediator is primarily a "process person," helping the parties define the agenda, identify and reframe the issues, communicate more effectively, find areas of common ground, negotiate fairly and, hopefully, reach an agreement. A successful mediation effort has an outcome that is accepted and owned by the parties themselves.

Real Estate

This firm handles Real Estate matters throughout the state and the region including but not limited to:

CCRS

Easements

Evictions

Home Owners Associations

Rental Agreements

Judicial Foreclosures

Deed of Trust Sales

Property Disputes

Purchase and Sale Agreements

Seller Financed Transactions

Transfers of Property

Taxation

This firm handles Taxation matters including but not limited to:

Business Succession Planning

Estate and Gift Taxation

Federal and State Tax Controversies

Like Kind Exchanges

Limited Liability Companies and Corporations

Real Estate Transactions

Sales/Use and Property Tax Issues

IRS Tax Controversy Negotiations

Tax Advice and IRS Qualification for Non-Profit Organizations

IRS “Offers-In-Compromise”

Tax Issues in Bankruptcy

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Practice Areas

Contact and Appointments