CHARLES FOERSTER- PARTNER

Charles E. Foerster – Partner
Phone (412) 471-4128
Fax (412) 471-4145
Email: ceflaw21@icloud.com

BACKGROUND

Charles Foerster was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He received his undergraduate Honors Degree in Economics from the Pennsylvania State University in 1978 and his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School Of Law in 1981. He joined the firm in 1982 and has since concentrated his law practice in the areas of Estate, Trust, Business and Retirement Planning, Administration, Litigation, Elder Law and related areas. He worked closely for 20 years with the firm’s founder, Clifford A. Weisel until Mr. Weisel’s death in 2002. In 2004 Mr. Foerster opened a companion office in Cambria, San Luis Obispo County, CA.* With the help of reliable staff support and ever improving communication technologies, Mr. Foerster continuously serves the firm’s traditional and new clients in Pennsylvania and his clients in California. He is a member of both the Allegheny County, PA Bar Association (ACBA) and the California State Bar Association.

* Folklore has it that the town of Cambria, CA, which was known as Santa Rosa until the late 19th Century, was given its name by an attorney/surveyor named Peter Forrester (no relation) from Cambria County, PA, as the trees and landscape there reminded him of his Western PA home. Mr. Foerster became familiar with Cambria in the 1990′s, as his sister then lived in nearby San Luis Obispo, CA.

PHILOSOPHY

Mr. Foerster respects the unique family circumstances and goals of each of his clients and is committed to providing the careful attention needed to accommodate each client.

Mr. Foerster believes and has found through experience that proper lifetime planning on behalf of his clients allows subsequent administration to be accomplished in an expeditious, cost effective manner with a minimum of taxes on transfers of wealth to succeeding generations. Proper drafting of documents, including clear, concise language and the inclusion of provisions tailored to the specific circumstances of the client are also essential to accomplishing these goals and to avoiding expensive litigation.

SERVICE

Mr. Foerster is a past Chair and current member of the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA) Probate & Trust Law Section. He is also a member of the San Luis Obispo County Trust & Estates Section. He spearheaded and contributed substantially to the ACBA’s public service brochure known as “The Truth About Probate And Living Trusts In Pennsylvania”. He is a fellow of the Allegheny County, PA Bar Foundation. He is a Paul Harris fellow, PRLS (Potential Rotary Leadership Seminars) graduate and an active member of the Rotary Club Of Cambria. He regularly attends meetings of the Downtown Pittsburgh Rotary Club when in Pennsylvania.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS

Estate planning documents normally include the Last Will and Testament and may include a Revocable Trust and one or more types of Irrevocable Trusts (e.g. Life Insurance Trusts, with or without provisions for minors; Special Needs Trusts to protect beneficiaries entitled to public benefits; Grantor Trusts and Charitable Trusts of various types to allow lifetime enjoyment of assets as well as tax benefits).

Lifetime gifting in the proper manner can also be an important and effective estate planning device.

In appropriate situations the creation of a Family Limited Partnership or similar entity can be a means through which lifetime gifting and tax savings can be achieved.

Business Succession Planning is an integral part of Estate Planning for individuals and families whose livelihoods depend upon the efficient transfer of closely held business interests to succeeding generations. Buy-Sell Agreements with appropriate life insurance provisions can be essential in such situations.

Retirement Planning and Elder Law issues are also addressed in the process of Estate Planning.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

  • Estate Planning
  • Probate, Trust, and Estate Administration

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Pennsylvania, 1982
  • Arizona, 1985
  • California, 2004
  • U.S. Federal Courts, 1982

EDUCATION

  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law
    J.D. 1981
  • Pennsylvania State University,
    University Park, Pennsylvania
    B.A.1978
    Honors in Economics: Summa Cum Laude

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

  • Member of the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA)
  • San Luis Obispo County, CA Bar Association
  • California State Bar Association
  • Cambria CA Rotary