Christine N. Fletcher
Chair, Trusts & Estates | Co-Chair, Private Client
cfletcher@burnslev.com"Every client should feel like our most important client whether they have a large matter with us or a small one. Responsiveness and client communication are an integral part of our customer service."
Practices
Families and individuals come to Christine Fletcher for help navigating the legal aspects of life's journey. She has over twenty years' experience in advising clients on estate planning, trust and estate administration, probate litigation and family business matters.
As a partner in and co-chair of the firm’s Private Client group, Christine helps families plan for life’s transitions whether it is moving assets to the next generation, minimizing estate taxes or ensuring assets pass to intended recipients. Estate planning solutions can be simple, but like life, they can also be complicated. Issues arise with second marriages, divorce, blended families and unfortunate family crises. Christine listens to clients’ goals and develops plans for them that meet those goals.
As the world has become more global, so has estate planning. Christine assists clients with international assets plan for the transitional and tax issues associated with having assets abroad.
Philanthropy has become an important part of many clients’ estate planning. Christine helps clients develop plans that meet their charitable goals while still providing for family members and loved ones in a tax efficient manner.
In the probate courts, Christine helps clients probate estates, petition for guardianships and maneuver disputes arising from contested estates. Being part of a court action can be daunting. Christine offers clients practical advice to maneuver through the courts in an efficient and effective manner. When matters are disputed, Christine presents her clients with options and solutions advising as to risks and possible outcomes. Clients need to make informed decisions, and Christine helps them do that.
Many clients have closely held or family owned businesses. Christine advises as to the business succession planning issues that arise as owners prepare for life’s next step, whether that involves slowing down, preparing the next generation to takeover, or an outright sale. Additionally, with the firm’s deep expertise in such areas as business law, employment law and intellectual property, Christine can help clients with their business’ legal needs as they arise, providing clients with an expert legal team to rely on when needed.
Practices
- Trusts & Estates
- Fiduciary Litigation
- Business, Finance & Transactions
- Venture Capital & Emerging Companies
Education
J.D., Syracuse University College of Law, 1994
B.A., cum laude, Boston University, 1991
Admissions
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York