Paul M. Hattenhauer

Paul M. Hattenhauer, a partner with Culp Elliott & Carpenter, P.L.L.C., is chair of the firm’s Estate Planning practice group. Mr. Hattenhauer’s practice is focused on providing tax, business, asset protection and estate planning advice for individuals, closely held business owners and fiduciaries. He provides counsel in sophisticated estate tax reduction strategies, and advises clients on strategies to arrange their affairs to pay the least amount of tax. He is experienced in the creation and funding of family entities and trusts through the use of life insurance and other assets to provide estate tax savings, creditor protection and marital discord protection. Mr. Hattenhauer counsels clients in all aspects of trust and estate administration, including the preparation of estate tax returns, tax audits with the Internal Revenue Service and State revenue departments, valuation issues, and will and trust disputes. He has extensive experience with family business succession planning, sales and acquisitions of businesses, the formation of business entities and implementation of shareholder’s agreements, and employment and non-competition agreements. Mr. Hattenhauer has extensive experience in implementing sophisticated estate plans for high net worth individuals, closely held business owners and their families. These plans are tailored to allow the client to pay the least amount of tax within the context of the family’s overall goals and objectives, and include the use of trusts, family partnerships and limited liability companies and charitable entities.