Brian Ott is a partner in the firm’s Trusts & Estates group. He focuses his practice on both complex and simple estate and tax planning, administration of estates and trusts, business succession planning and on the representation of private foundations and tax-exempt organizations. He regularly advises individuals and corporate fiduciaries in the interpretation of governing documents and in the administration of trusts, guardianships and estates.

Brian understands and appreciates the unique concerns and personal nature of the work he provides to his clients. Brian’s estate planning practice includes the following:

• Drafting complex and simple estate plans including wills, revocable trusts, dynasty trusts, irrevocable insurance trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), charitable remainder trusts, family limited partnerships, limited liability companies and powers of attorney.
• Assistance with retirement planning and charitable giving.
• Counseling owners of closely-held businesses on business succession planning, business formation and governance issues.
• Advising clients of the consequences of proposed transfers and transactions as they relate to estate, gift, generation-skipping and income taxes.
• Assistance with estate administration and the probate process.
• Counseling clients about long-term care planning and elder law issues, especially as related to eligibility for Medicare and Medical Assistance.

Brian is a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He serves on the Orphans’ Court Rules Committee of the Berks County Bar Association and on the boards of directors of several charitable organizations.

When he’s not working for his clients, he can usually be spotted throughout the Berks County area transporting his five children to their never-ending assortment of activities.