How To Protect Your Kids From Estate Disputes

This episode of “Wealth Matters” offers ways to protect your children from estate disputes. The round-table discussion is hosted by Partners Adam Gaslowitz, Craig Frankel sand Millie Baumbusch.

Adam Gaslowitz

As a founding partner of Gaslowitz Frankel LLC, Adam Gaslowitz is a fiduciary litigator who specializes in representing individuals, executors, trustees, investors, shareholders, and financial institutions in complex fiduciary disputes involving wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, businesses, and securities. Mr. Gaslowitz’s approach to his practice is rooted in his belief that his clients need more than just an attorney; they need guidance in making both legal and practical decisions during a time of enormous emotional stress. To his clients, he is a counselor in every sense of the word, providing both expert legal advice and perspective on what really matters. Always keeping his clients’ best interests in mind, Mr. Gaslowitz is also an expert on mediation and alternative methods of resolving estate disputes.

Mr. Gaslowitz graduated summa cum laude from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, earning degrees in accounting and finance. After business school, he earned a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

Mr. Gaslowitz has served as an expert commentator on CNN and the Layman’s Lawyer. He has given numerous seminars and lectures on estate litigation. As an active member of the community, Mr. Gaslowitz often lectures to groups such as AARP and serves on the Boards of several legal organizations, such as the Atlanta Probate Bar. He is proud to have been honored with many accolades, including being elected as a Fellow of ACTEC, attaining an “AV” Attorney Rating by Martindale Hubbell, and being recognized by Super Lawyers of Georgia annually since 2006.

Craig Frankel

Craig Frankel is an experienced litigator who specializes in civil disputes within the areas of business law, contracts, will and trusts, fiduciary duties, employment claims, civil rights, and civil appeals. Known throughout the legal profession as a principled, aggressive attorney who gets the job done, Mr. Frankel emphasizes open and frank exchanges with every client, adversary, and the court. As a founding partner of Gaslowitz Frankel LLC, he takes pride in his firm’s ability to create favorable resolutions for their clients, whether through trial or settlements. Mr. Frankel’s approach to his practice is centered on the belief that any successful result must meet both the financial and emotional challenges of his clients. Therefore, in addition to his years of experience in a courtroom, Mr. Frankel is well versed in mediation and alternative dispute resolution techniques.

Mr. Frankel attended the Honors Program of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and the Order of the Grail Honor Society. He later attended the University of Georgia School of Law as a Bryant T. Castellow Scholar, where he served as Executive Editor of the Georgia Law Review and a research assistant to Deans Beaird and Brussack. After achieving his J.D. with honors, Mr. Frankel clerked with the Hon. John C. Godbold, then Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Mr. Frankel is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs, wealth management programs, and estate and tax programs, where he discusses fiduciary duties and the risks for fiduciaries. Additionally, his successful law practice is balanced with extensive pro bono work. Mr. Frankel currently serves on the Board of Directors of Hillside Hospital, a residential and outpatient facility for severely abused or emotionally disturbed adolescents and their families.

Millie Baumbusch

Millie Baumbusch head shotMillie Baumbusch is a litigator who specializes in fiduciary matters, including disputes concerning wills, estates, trusts, and business interests. Her particular focus is on contested guardianships and conservatorships. Ms. Baumbusch represents clients in all phases of litigation, from filing pleadings and conducting discovery through strategizing for and managing hearings and trials. In addition, she often engages in settlement negotiations to assist clients in resolving their disputes prior to trial, saving resources and permitting them a measure of control over the outcome.

Ms. Baumbusch attended Brown University and obtained a B.A. degree in English literature. She was an Assistant Vice President at Chemical Bank in New York City, where she was a lending officer to middle market companies and held several positions in strategic planning and market research. Ms. Baumbusch attended the Georgia State University College of Law, earning a J.D. cum laude. While in law school, she served as Research Co-Editor of the Law Review.

Ms. Baumbusch is certified in civil collaborative practice and has more than 1,200 hours of hands-on experience with Guardianship and Conservatorship cases. She has made CLE presentations and lectured on guardianships, how to avoid estate disputes, and related topics.

Ms. Baumbusch’s passion for estate and trust litigation is rooted in the combination of analyzing complex legal issues and being attuned to family dynamics. With cases that often involve clients’ family members, Ms. Baumbusch focuses on the legalities involved and interactions with opposing counsel, while never losing sight of the impact the final outcome will have on her client’s family. She understands that seeking a mediated settlement that would foster a better family relationship is often a more appropriate approach than taking an aggressive stance in litigation. However, each case presents different family, factual, and legal issues, making every day a fresh challenge.

About Gaslowitz Frankel:

Gaslowitz Frankel is an experienced trial practice firm specializing in all aspects of complex fiduciary litigation throughout Georgia and the Southeast. With a focus on representing individuals, companies, banks, and fiduciaries in dispute involving wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, businesses, and securities law, their experienced and highly qualified litigation attorneys have tremendous credentials and a proven history of success.