In this free estate planning presentation, Jim will discuss: What is probate? What are the pros & cons of probate? What strategies can be used to avoid probate? 

Since 1990, Jim Ruggiero has been helping families and business owners create estate plans aimed at transferring their legacy successfully to the next generation.

He is owner of Ruggiero Law Offices LLC with offices in Paoli, and Center Valley, PA where he practices in estate planning, estate administration, elder law, business law and real estate.  Jim’s planning experience includes the use of wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, IRA trusts, life insurance trusts and Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts.

His practice also includes:

• Elder Law Planning which includes Medicaid Planning
• Estate Administration of varying degree of complexity including insolvent estates to those values exceeded 20 million.
• Business Law which includes advising on formation, growth and succession of the business, contract negotiations, employee contracts and disputes, patents, copyright, real estate lease and purchase
• Real Estate which includes purchase, sales, and representation at closing

Honors and Achievements  

He has achieved board certification as an Estate Planning Law Specialist, one of only a few to attain this in the country, awarded by The Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc., an attorney-run subsidiary of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils in Cleveland, Ohio. Additionally, he has attained designation as an Accredited Estate Planner, awarded by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils.

Mr. Ruggiero has been recognized in Main Line Today and Philadelphia Magazine as a Top Attorney in Trusts & Estates & Elder Law and a Five Star Wealth Manager for numerous years.  

Memberships

He is a past board member of the Estate Planning Council of the Lehigh Valley,

member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and former council relation committee member for the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils.  Additionally, Mr. Ruggiero is a member of the Chester County, Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations where he is active in the Elder Law, Probate and Trust Real Property Sections.

Active in the community, he is a board member for the Ardent Community Trust of Pennsylvania, the Past President of the Foundation for Planned Lifetime Assistance Network, and former Chairman of the Business Department Advisory Board of Immaculata University and Past President of the Chester County Estate Planning Council.

Throughout his career, Jim has given countless presentations for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, WealthCounsel LLC and the Trial Lawyers Association. He is often asked to serve as a course planner.  His seminar topics have included Last Minute Estate Planning for the Dying Client, PA Inheritance Taxes, Advanced Estate Planning Issues, Special Needs Trusts, Estate Planning for Retirement Assets and Retirement Asset Disclaimers, Business Succession Planning, and Planning for Persons with Diminished Capacity and Distribution of Assets upon Death.

He received his B.A. from Ursinus College and his J.D. from Widener University School of Law.