Trusts, Estates & Family Law
The attorneys of Stites & Harbison’s Trusts & Estate Planning Group routinely serve clients in a range of matters that include:
- Wills
- Living trusts
- Irrevocable trust agreements
- Marital deduction trusts
- Generation-skipping trusts
- Qualified personal residence trusts
- GRATs and GRUTs
- Trusts for minors
- Powers of attorney
- Advance medical directives
- Tax counsel for minimizing current income taxes, future inheritance and estate taxes, and taxes on retirement
- Handling of income tax matters at death
- Planning to avoid the generation-skipping tax
- Exercising powers of appointment
- Beneficiary and distribution decisions under qualified retirement plans and IRAs
Family Law
The Nashville, Tennessee-based Family Law practice of Stites & Harbison focuses almost exclusively on divorce, child custody, support, and family issues. Representing clients with marital estates ranging from a few hundred thousand dollars to more than a hundred million dollars, the group handles a wide variety of issues that arise before, during, and after marriages and other family relationships. The "before" includes the negotiation and drafting of prenuptial agreements. The "during" includes issues related to separation, divorce and custody. The "after" includes post-divorce disputes, appeals and other challenges to divorce or custody decrees.
Members of our group have a combined 90-plus years of family law experience. This experience includes the valuation and division of substantial business interests and intellectual properties, as well as structuring workable parenting plans in difficult situations.
Our experience has taught us that there is no such thing as a "cookie cutter" family lawsuit. Our attorneys have represented clients in divorces that cross state and national boundaries, and which involve international custody disputes and difficult jurisdictional issues. We commit to every client the same level of care, attention to detail, accessibility and sensitivity to privacy. We bring to bear in each case the resources necessary to properly resolve that case, including obtaining expert assistance for the appraisal of property and finding psychological and counseling professionals when needed.
One of the things that makes Stites & Harbison’s family law practice unique is our ability to draw upon the knowledge of other attorneys in the firm for assistance with issues involving real property, taxes, retirement plans, business disputes, immigration, and a host of other difficult questions.
Chambers USA High Net Worth Honors Gregory D. Smith for 2021
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Chambers USA High Net Worth selected Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Gregory D. Smith for inclusion in its 2021 guide in the category of Family/Matrimonial for USA: Tennessee. Chambers High Net Worth ranks top lawyers and law firms in the international private wealth market.
Stites & Harbison Ranks 3rd on 2021 “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” List
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is ranked 3rd in “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” for 2021 in the medium company category. The firm has made the list 15 times.
“No Company is Safe” — White House Urges Private Sector to Act Now in Hardening Defenses Against Growing Ransomware Threats
Following the most recent slew of high-profile ransomware attacks, the White House deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, Anne Neuberger, issued an open letter to the private sector urging action to increase cyber defenses to match the nation’s increasing ransomware threat.
Chambers USA Honors 22 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2021
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Chambers USA selected 22 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in Kentucky and Tennessee for inclusion in their 2021 guide.
Stites & Harbison Opens First Ohio Office In Cincinnati Area
Kentucky-based Stites & Harbison PLLC has expanded its operations to Ohio for the first time in nearly 200 years with a new office in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, the firm announced Friday. Led by member Robin D. Miller, the Cincinnati-area office is currently operating with the help of attorneys from the nearby town of Covington, Kentucky, but the firm said it hopes to hire more Cincinnati full-timers by the end of 2021.
Stites & Harbison Expands Footprint, Opens First Ohio Office
CINCINNATI—Stites & Harbison, PLLC announced today it has opened a Cincinnati, Ohio office to better meet the increased needs of its clients in the region. The office will be led by Member (Partner), Robin D. Miller.
Gregory D. Smith Inducted as Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Gregory D. Smith was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) on March 5, 2021, at an online ceremony during the Spring Meeting of the College. Only 1% of the Total Lawyer Population in the U.S. and Canada
Are Fellows
Top Women in Business Spotlight: Marjorie Farris
The Lane Report takes a closer look at the women who are making a difference in Kentucky. Stites Chair and Louisville attorney Marjorie Farris is featured today.
Nashville Business Journal Names Rebecca McKelvey Castañeda to 2021 List of 40 Under 40
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The Nashville Business Journal recently announced that Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Rebecca McKelvey Castañeda has been named to the 2021 list of 40 Under 40.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 41 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2021
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2021 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 42 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices.
Ten Stites & Harbison Attorneys Honored by 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The 2020 edition of Mid-South Super Lawyers recently honored 10 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys.
Legal Maneuvering: How the pandemic has forced Louisville law firms to rethink the workplace
The practice of law was already trending toward remote work when the coronavirus outbreak sent attorneys packing to their home offices in March, said Bob Connolly, chairman of Stites & Harbison PLLC in Louisville.
Stites & Harbison Highly Ranked in 45 Practice Areas in 2021 “Best Law Firms” List
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers have released their 2021 “Best Law Firms” rankings. Stites & Harbison, PLLC’s three National Tier 1 rankings include: Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate, and Trademark Law. The firm’s overall results include 83 metropolitan rankings in seven regions and represent the 45 legal practice areas.
Stites leader Robert Connolly on how his office manages the state of downtown
Robert Connolly, chairman of Stites & Harbison PLLC, had a godson who was living in the Chinese province of Wuhan as an English teacher in late 2019, before it was the epicenter the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Bert Wolf Named Stites & Harbison’s Memphis Office Executive Member
MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Herbert B. Wolf Jr. (Bert) has been named Office Executive Member for the Memphis, Tenn., office.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2021 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 82 lawyers are included in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.