Federal Estate Planning

Generation Skipping Transfer Tax Issues

Estate and Probate Planning for the non-traditional family

Attorney Edward L. Armstrong dedicates his law practice in the greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area to assisting the firm's clients with estate planning, family wealth transfers, the administration of probate estates and trusts, the preparation of wills, powers of attorney, trusts as well as assisting them with estate controversies, will and trust contests, Federal Estate Tax controversies.  He also assists clients with disputes which may arise with regard to a family member's mental or physical capacity, guardianships of minors and incapacitated or disabled individuals, and disputes centered around issues regarding undue influence and fraud.

Missouri's present law with respect to documents pertaining to health care and healthcare decisions resulted in large part from a case similar to the Schiavo case inFlorida. The case was known as the Cruzan Case and involved a young woman who lost control of her car which overturned leaving her without oxygen for about 12 to 14 minutes. 

In addition to assisting clients with probate matters, Mr. Armstrong, who in addition to his law degree, holds an LL.M. degree in taxation from Washington University Law School in St. Louis, Missouri, assists clients with federal estate, gift tax and generation skipping transfer tax planning, Probate Avoidance, preparation of trusts for persons with special needs and issues regard the protection of clients' wealth. 

Clients matters are always handled in an empathetic yet professional manner by the attorney.  In many instances family disputes may be resolved without the necessity of lengthy litigation in the Probate Court and when this is possible, every effort is made to avoid nasty family confrontations in the public forum.  Litigation is often an issue when family members and potential heirs feel that they have been treated unfairly or if they feel their interests have been dishonestly tampered with by another family member.  While there are numerous grounds for contesting the validity of a will or trust, most come within the concept of undue influence or mental capacity of the person whose will is being questioned. 

Attorney Edward L. Armstrong has practiced Probate and Estate Planning for over thirty years.  He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law where he received his J.D. in 1973 and is a graduate of the Washington University , St. Louis, Missouri School of Law, receiving his LL.M. in Taxation in 1978. 

Edward L. Armstrong, P.C. is conveniently located in Creve Coeur, Missouri, in the center of West St. Louis County and is convenient to Interstate 270, Olive Street and Highway 40 (Interstate 64).  Many of the firms clients are located in the City of St. Louis as well as suburban areas such as Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, Chesterfield , South County , Wildwood, Ellisville, Manchester , Ladue and Olivette.