Franke, Sessions & Beckett LLC

About

An Annapolis Estates and Trusts Law Firm
151 West Street, Suite 301
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
410-263-4876

Story

Our focus is the law of estates and trusts. Within this practice niche we cover it all: estate and asset protection planning, estate and trust administration, and fiduciary litigation. These three core areas reinforce each other in ways that bring tangible benefits to our clients.

Many law firms offer, or claim to offer, a wide variety of services to clients. We do not. We believe that our clients benefit because we have narrowed our practice to the law of estates and trusts and have done so for over 30 years.

Within this practice area, however, we cover a broad spectrum: planning, administration and litigation. It is true that some other lawyers and law firms likewise limit their practices to that of estates and trusts. Very few, however, can offer clients the experience gained from a broad practice within this seemingly narrow niche. Many lawyers may prepare estate planning documents, for example, but those lawyers may not have in-house fiduciary litigation, or even in-house fiduciary tax return preparation, capabilities. Yet these other facets inform and strengthen the planning and the administration aspects of our estates and trusts law practice.

For us, estate planning is not just an abstract idea boxed neatly within an “office practice.” When drafting wills and trusts, we are mindful of how those documents will work in the very practical world of estate or trust administration and litigation. We have handled many estate and trust administrations over the years. Most run smoothly. Others involve family conflict, IRS disputes, or other challenges. Our fiduciary litigation practice includes disputes over the meaning of estate planning documents, arguments involving personal representatives or trustees, and challenges to documents because of alleged lack of capacity or undue influence. These estate and trust administration experiences and fiduciary litigation cases, in turn, keep us alert to possible challenges as we advise clients and draft estate planning documents.

To maximize client services, we have organized the practice on a team-based model. This means that client matters are handled collaboratively by a mix of lawyers, paralegals and an accountant. This permits us to bring the different perspectives of each member of the team to assist our clients. Our clients notice the ease of access to staff who are fully knowledgeable about, and involved in, their particular matter. Our collaborative approach, coupled with an office-wide involvement in all aspects of estates and trusts, lets us deliver the highest quality of client services.

Our firm consists of three lawyers, Fred Franke, Frank K. Beckett, and David E. Sessions; a CPA, Anne Franke; two paralegals, Jessica Deming and Bryan P. Pampuro; and an assistant, Margaret Abbott.