Marilyn W. McWilliams

Attorney, Transaction Section

Following in the footsteps of her hero Winston Churchill, Marilyn McWilliams believes that the true value of life is measured by what we give to each other, not necessarily what we get. As such, she has dedicated her legal career to ensuring that those left behind after a loved one’s death are well taken care of.

Caring, loyal, and an authority in her field, Marilyn plans and administers estates and trusts, powers of attorney, wills, and other estate planning tools for individuals, families, and closely-held businesses to prepare them in the event of death. She is adept in the design and application of revocable and irrevocable trusts, charitable trusts, residence trusts, guardianships and conservatorships.

As a trusted family advisor, Marilyn carefully advises fiduciaries and trustees, acts as a trustee, and incorporates life insurance, stock options, IRAs, 401(k) and profit sharing plans into estate plans. Marilyn’s guidance helps clients protect their heirs and closely-held companies to ensure wealth preservation and smooth succession of assets to future generations. She aims for estate plans with the best immediate and long-term tax advantages.

Marilyn’s expertise includes specific knowledge of estate planning as it affects those with long-term disabilities–for example, how to ensure the ability to inherit without losing other benefits. She is a frequent lecturer and has co-authored an article on protecting disabled persons’ access to public benefits with special needs trusts. She also authored ”Life After Death,” a comprehensive guide for widowed persons on how to deal with the legal and financial challenges that arise on the death of a spouse.

Marilyn and her husband of more than 35 years have three daughters. In addition to being mother, wife, and professional, she is a community volunteer, cookbook author, and avid reader, favoring the works Stephen Ambrose, Herman Hesse, and Thomas Keating.

Publications

• Life After Death: A Legal and Practical Guide for Surviving Spouses (Bradford Publishing Co., 2005)
  
• ”Preserving the Disabled Plaintiff's Access to Public Benefits,” 25 The Colorado Lawyer 49, 1996.
• ”Marital Dissolution and Estate Planning,” in the Colorado Estate Planning Handbook, CLE in Colorado Inc., Supp. 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007