How to Avoid Being Robbed Blind After You Die

In February 2018, prominent NYC attorney Steven Etkind was arrested on charges of embezzling millions of dollars from a deceased client's estate. The client's will directed the creation of charitable trusts (of which Etkind served as co-trustee), funded with assets from the client's estate, for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations.

Now facing a maximum sentence of 18 years in prison if convicted, Etkind and his co-conspirator are accused of setting up a phony charitable organization and using it to steal more than $3.5 million from their client's trusts over the course of eight years. According to a press release issued by the Department of Justice, he used part of the money he stole to purchase a 6,300-square-foot home in Southampton, N.Y.

It's no secret that higher-net worth individuals usually require extensive estate planning. From sophisticated trusts to tax-planning strategies