Case Type Unspecified
Unknown
We are very disappointed in the trust written up by Mr. Hawkins for my parents 6 months before my mother passed away. He created a trust that deviated so far from two previous trusts that showed my parents consist desire to have 2 of their children over the trust once they passed or became incapacitated. He advised against that and insisted that there only be one trustee which has created a situation where there is confusion & contention in the family. Three other estate attorneys who have read the trust agreed it was poorly written. The advise Mr. Hawkins has given the sibling over the trust has fostered an irreparable divide in the family and caused litigation to get proper care for my father when my mother passed. Mr. Hawkins mislead my parents - they were in decline when they met with him and he was not helpful when we reached out to seek understanding of the trust documents after my mother passed. We are heartbroken.
Owner response
This reviewer is not, and has never been, a client. She was not present during any meetings with my actual clients. Her comments are therefore not based on personal knowledge of the legal representation provided. She is reviewing the same event as Rebecca Akester.<br><br>In estate planning, especially when death or incapacity occurs, pre-existing family tensions can surface. That is precisely why carefully structured planning is so important — to protect the clients’ wishes and shield the estate from disruption. Our documents are created with those protections in mind.<br><br>I am bound by strict confidentiality rules and cannot discuss matters with non-clients, no matter how frustrated they may be. When contacted here, I was compelled to decline comment or even to suggest a course of action.<br><br>While I cannot comment on the specifics of any individual situation, I can say that the quality of our work is the result of more than thirty years of focused practice in estate planning. Our approach has been refined over decades and has been recognized by both peers and professionals for its clarity, strength, and ability to withstand precisely this kind of emotional and legal turbulence that can follow a family crisis.<br><br>It’s always painful when families experience conflict during times of grief or stress. My sincere hope is that all involved find peace, and that the planning done provides the stability and guidance it was intended to deliver.