Beth L. O'Laughlin
- Partner
Regardless of whether someone has complex assets and goals, or their estate is relatively straightforward, the estate planning process can be stressful and emotional. Because I understand both the personal and intellectual challenges estate planning presents, I approach each client interaction thoughtfully and competently. I do everything possible to help my clients feel comfortable and less overwhelmed.
Beth O’Laughlin provides both adept and highly accessible counsel to individuals, families and businesses throughout Michigan in trust and estate planning and administration, succession planning, tax matters and wealth preservation. She also assists closely held and family businesses in negotiating and executing business transactions, managing ongoing operations, and designing and effectuating succession plans.
industries
practices
Estate Planning and Settlement
- Represents a broad spectrum of clients ranging from high net worth individuals to young professionals, advising on estate plans designed to effectively distribute assets, minimize taxation and avoid probate.
- Counsels high net worth individuals and their families on tax sensitive planning techniques including irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), “intentionally defective” grantor trusts, spousal limited access trusts (SLATs) and charitable remainder trusts (CRTs).
- Assists clients in integrating real property, business interests, retirement plans and heirloom assets into estate plans.
- Builds estate plans to effectively navigate the complexities of s
Estate Planning and Settlement
- Represents a broad spectrum of clients ranging from high net worth individuals to young professionals, advising on estate plans designed to effectively distribute assets, minimize taxation and avoid probate.
- Counsels high net worth individuals and their families on tax sensitive planning techniques including irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), “intentionally defective” grantor trusts, spousal limited access trusts (SLATs) and charitable remainder trusts (CRTs).
- Assists clients in integrating real property, business interests, retirement plans and heirloom assets into estate plans.
- Builds estate plans to effectively navigate the complexities of second marriage situations, children from prior relationships and special needs beneficiaries.
Family Business Succession Planning
- Develops plans to transfer ownership of family businesses to next generation owners on a tax-advantaged basis using techniques such as grantor retained annuity trusts and sales to grantor trusts.
- Counsels families on strategies to effectively transition management to successive generations while retaining key nonfamily employees.
- Assist families in integrating family values and culture into complex plans.
General Business Law
- Represents closely held businesses in determining proper entity selection, formation, ongoing operations and succession planning.
- Drafts business agreements, including operating agreements, shareholder agreements, buy-sell agreements, stock redemption agreements, employment agreements, non-compete agreements, nondisclosure agreements and leases.
- Negotiates and structures business transactions, including the drafting of documents to memorialize equity or asset purchases, financing and security.
- “Prenuptial Agreements from an Estate Planning Perspective,” ICLE Seminar: Pre- and Postnuptial Agreements, October 19, 2023
- “Tax-Sensitive Trustee Powers,” ICLE Seminar: Planning Techniques for the Taxable Estate, Virtual Seminar, December 6, 2022
- “Directed Trusts & Divided Trusteeships,” MBA Midwest Trust and Wealth Management Conference, October 13, 2021
- “Estate Planning and Succession Planning for the Family Business,” Family Owned Business Affinity Group, June 2019
- “A Trustee’s Perspective on Trust Directors,” Institute of Continuing Legal Education 28th Annual Drafting
- “Prenuptial Agreements from an Estate Planning Perspective,” ICLE Seminar: Pre- and Postnuptial Agreements, October 19, 2023
- “Tax-Sensitive Trustee Powers,” ICLE Seminar: Planning Techniques for the Taxable Estate, Virtual Seminar, December 6, 2022
- “Directed Trusts & Divided Trusteeships,” MBA Midwest Trust and Wealth Management Conference, October 13, 2021
- “Estate Planning and Succession Planning for the Family Business,” Family Owned Business Affinity Group, June 2019
- “A Trustee’s Perspective on Trust Directors,” Institute of Continuing Legal Education 28th Annual Drafting Estate Planning Documents Seminar, February 2019
- “Estate Planning: Protecting Yourself and Your Family,” Northwood University, September 2016
watch my videos
- Should I Use a Professional Advisor as My Trustee?Legacy Matters
- Three Estate and Gift Tax Strategies to Consider Before Selling Your BusinessLegacy Matters
- Charitable Giving – Make It a Family DiscussionLegacy Matters
- Who Gets Grandpa’s Guitar Pick Collection?Legacy Matters
- Developing Gratitude in Children Can Be a Challenge – LiterallyLegacy Matters
- National Estate Planning Awareness Week Reminds Us to Be PreparedLegacy Matters
- Gratitude – It’s Not Just for ThanksgivingLegacy Matters
- The Gift of Gratitude Lasts a LifetimeLegacy Matters
- Give Your Graduate the Gift of Legal DocumentsLegacy Matters
- Estate Planning and the Holidays Really Do Mix: Warner Partner Beth O’Laughlin Talks with West Michigan Media
- 18 Warner Attorneys Named to Rising Stars List by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- 19 Warner Attorneys Named to Rising Stars List by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- 20 Warner Attorneys Named to Rising Stars List by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- Warner Names Six Attorneys as Partners
- Should I Use a Professional Advisor as My Trustee?
- Estate Planning Focus – Summer 2023
- Planning Documents for College-aged Children
- Three Estate and Gift Tax Strategies to Consider Before Selling Your Business
- Warner Partner Beth O’Laughlin Philanthropic Article Featured in The West Coast Way Magazine
- Charitable Giving – Make It a Family Discussion
- Who Gets Grandpa’s Guitar Pick Collection?
- What 2021 Tax Changes Could Mean For You
- Developing Gratitude in Children Can Be a Challenge – Literally
- National Estate Planning Awareness Week Reminds Us to Be Prepared
- Warner Partner Beth O’Laughlin Explains What Tax Reform May Mean For You
- Gratitude – It’s Not Just for Thanksgiving
- What Does the CARES Act Mean for Retirement Plans?
- Attorney Spotlight – Beth O’Laughlin
- Should I Convert My IRA to a Roth IRA?
- The Gift of Gratitude Lasts a Lifetime
- Give Your Graduate the Gift of Legal Documents
- References, Tools and Techniques: Exploring Warner’s Trusts and Estates Webpage
- Prince’s Death: A Lesson on the Importance of Estate Planning
- Avoiding Common Estate Planning Mistakes
- “Gratitude Isn’t Just For the Holidays,” Grand Rapids Business Journal, 12/11/2020
- “How to Draft an Irrevocable Trust with an Exit Strategy,” Michigan Probate & Estate Planning Journal, Summer 2017
- “Gratitude Isn’t Just For the Holidays,” Grand Rapids Business Journal, 12/11/2020
- “How to Draft an Irrevocable Trust with an Exit Strategy,” Michigan Probate & Estate Planning Journal, Summer 2017