Phyllis is the most senior paralegal at BreedLaw and has been with the firm since 1987.  Over that time, Phyllis has developed a deep and sophisticated understanding of trust and estate laws as well as how to navigate and translate sometimes incomplete or ambiguous tax regulations. Phyllis oversees the administration of all trusts and estates, providing great attention to detail and care to ensure assets and debts are properly reported and paid and all potential contingencies are taken into account.  Given the length of time many trusts are in existence, Phyllis routinely reviews its assets and coordinates with the wealth advisor to take advantage of opportunities to leverage long-term gains with losses or adjust the assets in any other tax-advantageous way.

As tax implications are an inevitable and necessary part of the administration process, Phyllis handles the preparation of all personal and fiduciary income as well as estate tax returns.  Given her vast knowledge of reporting requirements, Phyllis ensures an estate or trust is not overly taxed and all future credits are preserved.  Phyllis also coordinates required trust distributions to the beneficiaries and works with the beneficiaries should they require additional distributions.  Being the longest-tenured member of the team, Phyllis also plays an active role in client management and offers a comforting level of trust and stability for our clients.

Phyllis was born in New York and currently lives in Mount Laurel, New Jersey where together with her husband, Joe, they raised two children.

Assata is a senior paralegal at BreedLaw and has been with the firm since 1991.  Having been the initial point of contact for much of that time, Assata is a well-known and entrusted name to many of our clients.  Assata’s primary areas of focus are New York City residential real estate transactions and New York Surrogate’s Court matters. Assata is intimately familiar with the mechanisms associated with closing on a New York city property – especially co-operative apartments and condominiums, which have their own unique requirements.  Assata prepares and reviews all sale and transfer documents and coordinates with the realtors and managing agents to ensure a smooth closing.  Assata also plays a critical part in the probate process, working hand-in-hand with the executor to make sure forms are filed in a timely manner, the applicable parties are notified and all assets are collected.  Understanding the emotional strains which accompany the probate process, Assata often serves as the go-between the court, creditors and beneficiaries and the executor, so that the family member or friend in charge can properly grieve.

When not at the office, Assata enjoys volunteering her time working with homeless shelters and other charitable organizations.

Jenna is a paralegal at BreedLaw and has been with the firm since 2004. Jenna is heavily involved in trust and estate account management as well as overseeing the firm’s bookkeeping services. Every trust and estate is unique and has its own distribution schedule and guidelines. Often there are interim and/or annual distributions throughout the life of the trust or estate, and distributions may be mandatory or discretionary. Jenna communicates with the trustee or executor and coordinates with financial advisors to ensure all distributions and commissions are paid to the proper recipient. Equally important, Jenna makes sure the language of the trust or will is followed and distributions are allocated properly between income and principal when applicable. As trust and estate accounts must be administered with the highest level of care, Jenna meticulously reviews and tracks those accounts and provides quarterly and annual reports to clients summarizing all pertinent activity. Given her familiarity with the assets of the trust or estate, Jenna also helps with the initial preparation of fiduciary tax returns.

Jenna’s other primary role is to manage the firm’s bookkeeping services. Jenna meets with the client, collects all relevant financial information, tracks which bills and debts are due and when and puts a plan in place to ensure timely receipt of all income sources and payment of all expenses on a monthly basis. Jenna provides piece of mind by keeping the client in the loop and continually checking in to ensure they understand their financial circumstances.

Jenna lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, son and their yellow lab. In her spare time, Jenna volunteers her time at her son’s school as well as other causes that are important to her. Jenna also enjoys spending time with her friends and family and spending time down the shore.