Montana Estate Planning Practice Areas
About Tanko Law Firm
Tanko Law Firm is a unique firm insofar as we do not want our clients to feel like just another faceless person needing an attorney to help them through the estate planning process. We treat every client as we view them: As a vital part of the Tanko Law family. Because of the approach we take to our clients, you can expect above average customer service, open communication, and a team who is committed to listening to your needs and offering you solutions to meet those needs.
Historical Perspective Sheds Light on Unique Firm
In 1995, Brian Tanko offered estate planning services in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2001, he opened a second office in Kalispell, Montana he provided business and estate planning services to the community. During 2006, Brian relocated and now calls Kalispell home. From the Tanko Law Firm office located at 392 1st Avenue East North, we now serve clients in both Montana and Nevada and continue to provide estate and business planning services. Thanks to Brian and our wonderful team, we proudly provide a range of legal services.
Meet the Tanko Law Firm Team
Brian is always loves to tell people that we work with a small, cohesive team. Brian Tanko is licensed in both Nevada and Montana. He is a member of the Nevada State Bar, Clark County Bar Association, Nevada Trial Lawyers Association, Southern Nevada Estate Planning Council, American Bar Association, and National Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Brian has been practicing law for more than two decades.
Brian Tanko would not be as successful as they are without a great support staff.
Victoria Tanko, Brian's wife, assists the firm with administrative support and addressing client inquiries. Victoria proudly maintains a seat on the Board of Directors at Sparrows Nest, a place where displaced high school students can find a safe place to sleep at night.
Rounding out the team, a native of Montana, Katherine "Katie" Troiano is an active member of the Montana Paralegal Association. With more than decade of experience in the legal field, she helps the team with document drafting, administration of estates, real estate transactions, and client case management.
Flathead Valley #1 Law Firm
Tanko Law Firm was named Flathead Valley's #1 law firm in both 2018 and 2019. This is an honor that leaves us feeling both humbled and privileged. Our Valley has numerous outstanding, highly skilled attorneys all of whom practice in various fields of law. Every law firm has the same goals, to meet the needs of friends and neighbors which makes receiving this community recognition so humbling to us.
Understanding Our Practice Fields
We limit our practice to a handful of services in order to be able to provide high quality service at reasonable costs. Our practice areas are:
- Estate Planning – Drafting of Wills and Trusts
- Real Estate Transactions
- Business Formations
- Probate and Trust Administration
- Guardianships
Our offices are open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. It is common for us to meet with between six and eight clients daily. While we do our best to accommodate client consultations at the date and time that is best for you, we encourage you to plan accordingly. We do close for holidays and our offices are closed the week between Christmas and New Year's Day annually.
Preparing for a First Meeting
For those clients who are interested in estate planning, we offer an initial consultation at our office. During this preliminary meeting, we will discuss sensitive family issues including family dynamics, estate planning goals, types of assets held, and fiduciary appointments. While no two estate planning consultations are the same, our goal is to make sue we understand your concerns as this allows us to focus our effort on meeting your estate planning goals.
Consultations for other legal matters including business planning, trust administration, probate matters, real estate transactions, and guardianship are more complex. Before we accept clients in these fields, we will investigate issues with you to ensure we can help. You can help us determine what we can do to help by being prepared to present documents, and pertinent records at the time of your consultation. This important step allows for more in-depth and informative discussions, so we have a firm understanding of your goals once you engage us to represent your legal interests.
Hiring a law firm is an extremely personal decision, especially for sensitive issues like estate planning. At Tanko Law, we do not pressure you into deciding about representation. We want to make sure you understand we are here to help. Our first goal is to earn your trust. We are here to provide the best possible customer service experience in a calm, professional, and collegial atmosphere. Let us help you with your legal needs. Contact us today for a free consultation and experience for yourself what Tanko Law Office is all about and see what a difference working with a law team that treats you like a part of the family can make.
Asset Protection Strategies for Clients
We make sure our clients are aware of their asset protection options before they make a decision about what they believe is right for them. Every client is different and one strategy does not fit all situations. Some of the different planning strategies we tell our clients about include the following:
These partnerships are formed by families to protect family assets and limit creditors of the partners from a sale of his or her interest. These types of partnerships can be excellent tools for long-term manage of family properties or businesses.
Not all Trusts are created equal. Irrevocable Trusts can offer more protection from creditors than revocable Trusts. However, if these are not properly set up, even an irrevocable Trust may not adequately preserve assets. Some types of Trusts can protect assets from creditors, Medicaid, estate taxes and litigation if properly drafted. For this reason, it is important to have experienced legal counsel assist you assist in the formation of Trusts.
Also called a “Spendthrift Trust,” these Trusts allow a person to benefit from the assets held in the Trust, but limit a creditor's ability to attach to the Trust assets. Montana does not have statutes that allow for the creation of this type of Trust. Only a few states allow for this type of Trust to be created. Nevada is one such state and at Tanko Law we have legal counsel licensed in Nevada and relationships to help you implement this kind of Trust.
LLCs are a popular tool in an estate planning attorney’s tool box. These types of entities offer limited liability, minimize taxation, streamline family and business operations, and protect assets from personal liability. Some may think just creating an LLC online is easy and it affords you all the protections you seek, but nothing could be further from the truth. In today’s complex world where entities are subject to multiple state and federal filings for reporting, the targets for unsuspecting litigation, it is crucial that you work with experienced attorneys when implementing LLCs.
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Contact Tanko Law Office
Call Tanko Law today or use the online contact form to schedule a consultation to find out how we can help you protect your most valuable assets and minimize your administration costs. Our experienced attorneys are standing by!
