Do I need a will?
Most people put it off. Here is what actually happens to your assets, and to your family, if you don't have one in place.
Fitzgerald Norton Law provides sophisticated, innovative estate planning, trust administration, and tax counsel to individuals, families, and businesses, with the personal attention your legacy deserves.
Estate planning done well is transformative. It turns uncertainty into clarity, complexity into confidence, and a lifetime of work into a lasting legacy. Fitzgerald Norton Law was founded to deliver exactly that.
We offer a full range of estate planning, trust, and tax services tailored to each client’s personal, financial, and philanthropic goals. Fitzgerald Norton Law takes an innovative approach, going beyond traditional documents to address the full picture of modern wealth and family life. That includes provisions for digital assets and cryptocurrency, care arrangements for beloved pets, and plans that anticipate how families actually live and what they truly value. Every client also receives a personalized visual summary of their estate plan: a clear, easy-to-follow diagram that shows exactly how their plan works, who it protects, and why. Whether your estate is straightforward or complex, we bring creative, forward-thinking solutions to protect what matters most.
Preparation of wills, revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, and related documents tailored to your family’s structure and goals.
Strategic planning to minimize gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes through thoughtful use of exemptions and tax-efficient structures.
Guidance through the probate process and fiduciary administration of estates and trusts, from asset inventory to final distribution.
Long-term care planning and special needs trusts designed to protect and provide for disabled or vulnerable beneficiaries over a lifetime.
Planning for the transfer of closely held business interests, including buy-sell agreements, family limited partnerships, and ownership transitions.
Charitable giving strategies, donor-advised funds, charitable remainder trusts, and counsel to nonprofits on formation and tax-exempt compliance.
Forward-thinking planning for the way people live and hold wealth today, including digital assets and cryptocurrency, pet trusts, multigenerational wealth preservation, special needs planning, and nonprofit establishment. If your situation doesn’t fit a standard template, this is where we excel.
Erin E. Norton is an attorney whose practice is focused on estate and trust planning, fiduciary administration, and tax matters. A graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law, she went on to earn her LLM in Taxation from New York University School of Law. Through her client-focused approach, she advises families and individuals on gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning; the preparation of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, and related documents; estate settlement; trust administration; and charitable giving.
Her work includes developing tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies, advising fiduciaries in the administration of estates and trusts, and assisting clients with planning for closely held business interests, multigenerational wealth preservation, and the long-term care of special needs and disabled beneficiaries. Ms. Norton also counsels nonprofit organizations on formation, governance, and tax-exempt compliance. A dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, she brings an international perspective to cross-border planning matters.
Erin E. Norton serves as Board Chair of Health Care Advocates International, a global healthcare nonprofit dedicated to advancing LGBTQ-inclusive healthcare worldwide.
Maureen Fitzgerald Norton brings a rare combination of legal training and deep corporate experience to Fitzgerald Norton Law. A graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law, she also holds an MBA and BA from the University of New Haven. After decades in senior leadership at IBM, she was the first woman at the company to earn the designation of Distinguished Market Intelligence Professional. She provides advisory counsel at the intersection of business succession, entity planning, and corporate law.
Maureen holds a patent and is an internationally published author whose work on business analytics has been translated into Japanese. She has taught MBA students at HEC University in Paris and in the Middle East. Where Erin’s practice centers on the deep technical expertise of trusts, estates, and tax, Maureen’s business acumen and analytical rigor add a dimension that distinguishes this firm: counsel that understands not just the legal documents, but the businesses and financial lives behind them.
Estate planning is deeply personal. We take time to understand your family, your values, and your goals before recommending any strategy.
Every engagement begins with a thorough consultation to understand your unique circumstances, family dynamics, and long-term objectives.
We design custom strategies, not form documents, that reflect your values and adapt to your family’s evolving needs over time.
We walk through every document in plain language and provide a personalized visual flowchart of your complete plan.
Your plan should grow with you. We stay engaged as your life evolves, whether welcoming a child or grandchild, selling a business, or navigating a loss.
Answer a few simple questions and we will show you which planning strategies are most relevant to your situation.
This tool is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every situation is unique. Schedule a complimentary consultation to speak with Erin or Maureen directly.
Practical guidance on estate planning, written in plain language, without the jargon. These articles are intended to help you think through the decisions that matter most before we meet.
Most people put it off. Here is what actually happens to your assets, and to your family, if you don't have one in place.
A little preparation goes a long way. What to gather, what to think through, and what questions to ask before your first consultation.
You don't need a complete estate plan in place to start protecting the people you love. Here are five steps that make an immediate difference.
Both are essential planning tools, but they work differently, serve different purposes, and are not interchangeable. Here is how to think about each.
Cryptocurrency, online accounts, loyalty points, digital photos. Most estate plans say nothing about them. Here is why that matters and what to do about it.
Your pets depend entirely on you. A thoughtful plan ensures they are cared for by the right person, with the resources they need, no matter what happens.
A plan drafted five or ten years ago may no longer reflect your wishes, your family, or the law. Here is how to know when it is time to take another look.
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Ask Us in a ConsultationWe welcome inquiries from individuals, families, and businesses. Initial consultations are confidential and available by appointment.