David S. Staggs

David Staggs’ tax-efficient strategies help his clients protect their wealth and ensure that assets reach their intended beneficiaries. Working closely with families and their advisory teams, David structures and implements comprehensive estate plans, advises on irrevocable trusts, and manages estate administration.

Clients rely on David for plans that balance their unique estate goals with the complexities of state and federal tax laws. He is skilled at using legal options creatively to reduce estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax and protect assets from potential creditors. Equally important is his focus on non-tax goals. Whether a client wants to carry on a philanthropic legacy, structure bequests in a blended family, or plan for succession in a closely-held business, David creates individualized solutions.

David also helps executors and trustees in the estate and trust administration process, from probating wills to preparing estate tax returns to IRS audit defense, to the final accounting and distribution of property. Trustees also seek his counsel when administering revocable and irrevocable trusts, including decanting assets or changing the state governing law to reduce or defer income tax. 

Often serving as the “family lawyer,” David consults on a wide range of asset protection and tax issues such as structuring premium-financed life insurance transactions, establishing domestic asset protection trusts, and gifting private business interests before an equity sale.

Before joining Davis+Gilbert, David was an associate at Moses & Singer and previously taught as an adjunct professor for the LL.M. program in Elder Law and Estate Planning at Western New England University School of Law.