Joyce M. Hillis

I have dedicated my career to providing trust and estate planning and administration services to meet a wide range of client needs. I help clients navigate the complexities of trust and estate planning by preparing and executing comprehensive family wealth succession plans that minimize estate taxes, protect personal and inherited assets, and avoid unnecessary administrative difficulties.

I work with clients of all ages and wealth to develop personalized estate plans based on their unique financial, family, and business goals. I also implement those plans, providing advice on retirement benefits, charitable gifts, tax issues, and trust funding to avoid the probate process.

From high-net-worth individuals with complex distribution strategies and assets to clients simply wanting to ensure their minor children are cared for in the event of a tragedy, all of my clients know they can rely on me to not only provide a plan that meets their needs, but also to ensure that they understand every aspect of that plan. I counsel my clients on traditional estate plan elements, such as revocable trusts, wills, financial powers of attorney and healthcare powers of attorney, as well as how to leverage more specific trusts, including irrevocable trusts, asset protection trusts, family land trusts, and special needs trusts.

On the estate and trust administration side after the death or incapacity of a loved one, I guide families and professional fiduciaries through the trust administration process and any needed probate to give them a sense of clarity and confidence during an extremely difficult time.  From asset gathering and beneficiary distributions, to preparation of gift and estate tax returns, I guide clients through the administration process while providing solutions if issues arise.

In addition, I provide marital planning services. I help my clients protect assets for future generations by preparing prenuptial agreements and continuing trusts to hold inherited assets.

While I am lucky to have a career I enjoy, I am even more fortunate to share my life with a husband who shares my love of good food and travel and our two amazing sons who keep us on our toes. In my free time, you will find me curled up with an iced coffee and a good book, baking, or on a road trip seeking another family adventure.