Estates & Trusts

Estate planning might not be the easiest topic to think about—but it’s one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones and preserve your legacy. A well-crafted estate plan gives you peace of mind, helping ensure your personal, financial, and business wishes are carried out exactly as you intend.

At MW&CO, our knowledgeable team provides thoughtful, customized estate planning solutions that fit your unique needs. Whether you’re looking to minimize taxes, simplify asset distribution, or guidance to help set up a trust for future generations, we’re here to assist you every step of the way—with care, clarity, and expertise.

Let us help you secure what you’ve worked hard to build.

You’ve worked hard to grow your business, build your wealth, and create a lasting legacy—and it’s important to protect what matters most. Estate planning can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, it doesn’t have to be.

At MW&CO, our experienced and approachable team is here to help you plan for the future with confidence. We take the time to truly understand your goals and priorities, crafting personalized estate strategies that align with your wishes while minimizing unnecessary taxes and fees.

We’re proud to support clients through every stage of the estate planning process—from simplifying administration to helping transition wealth smoothly to the next generation. For over 40 years, we’ve built lasting relationships with families and business owners across Woodstock and Oxford County—many of whom we’ve worked with for generations.

When you choose MW&CO, you’re choosing a team that values trust, communication, and care. Your legacy matters—and we’re here to help you protect it.

At MW&CO, we are more than number crunchers. We are a valuable business partner, delivering precise, high-quality strategies tailored to you and your business. Our consultants have years of experience working with estates, including preparing final tax returns and subsequent trust returns, applying for clearances, corresponding with legal advisors, and consulting with trustees on various estate matters. Our team can help you develop a personalized plan to align with your financial goals while ensuring tax efficiency. We offer a wide range of estate services, including:

• Reviewing wills and estate plans
• Preparing and managing various trusts
• Tax optimization strategies for estate transfers
• Charitable gift planning
• Life Insurance planning
• Planning for disabilities

When it comes to solutions that will enable you to transfer assets to beneficiaries while still maintaining control of how and when they are distributed, a trust is a powerful estate tool. A trust is a legal arrangement where the settlor transfers assets or property to a trustee to manage and hold on behalf of the beneficiary. There are many reasons you may consider a trust, including:

• Estate planning: Ensuring assets are distributed according to your wishes
• Protection from creditors: Assets in trust can be protected from creditors or legal claims
• Tax planning: A trust can reduce tax obligations
• Minors or those with disabilities: A trust allows the trustee to manage finances or make financial decisions for those who are unable to enter into contracts

The Right Trust for You

While the right trust can help minimize tax exposure and unnecessary fees and protect assets from creditors, it’s important to understand the available trusts so you can implement them to best ensure financial stability for future generations.

• Inter Vivos Trusts: An inter vivos trust, or a living trust, is established during your lifetime to manage assets efficiently and provide tax benefits.
• Testamentary Trusts: Testamentary trusts are created after your passing through instructions in your will. They provide precise and structured asset distribution to beneficiaries.
• Family Trusts: A family trust is designed to benefit family members by managing assets and wealth distribution while also considering possible tax advantages.