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Cummings & Lockwood LLCPrincipal
Heather J. Rhoades
Pro

Heather J. Rhoades

4.9
17 reviews

75 Isham Road, Suite 400, West Hartford, CT 06107

Private Clients Group - Chair, Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning, Probate and Estate Administration and 7 more

About Heather J. Rhoades

Heather J. Rhoades is Chairman of Cummings & Lockwood's Private Clients Group and is based in the West Hartford office. she practices in the areas of estate planning, estate settlement, trust administration and charitable planning. Heather is a member of the Firm's National Charitable Planning Group.

Professional Recognition

•The American College of Trusts & Estates Counsel ( ACTEC ), fellow
•Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, Notable Practitioner, 2017 - Present
•The Best Lawyers in America, 2013 - Present
•The Best Lawyers in America, 2016, 2019, 2021, Hartford Trusts & Estates Lawyer of the Year
•Connecticut and New England Super Lawyers, 2014 - Present, Rising Star, 2008 - 2013

Civic and Philanthropic Activity

•Trusts & Estates Magazine, Philanthropy Committee of the Editorial Advisory Board, Member
•Hartford Foundation, Public Giving Professional Advisory Committee, Former Member

Articles/Publications

• “Charitable Gifts: Ethical Concerns For all Professions: Part 2; Know your stuff, keep up-to-date and do the right thing,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, August 2024 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Heather J. Rhoades

• “Charitable Gifts: Ethical Concerns For all Professions; Avoiding sanctions, malpractice claims, IRS’ costly penalties, the slammer,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, May 2024 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Heather J. Rhoades

• “Tax-Wise Charitable Remainder Trust Planning; Getting it right; fixing up the other guy’s mistakes,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, December 2023 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Heather J. Rhoades

• “Issues Regarding Charitable Remainder Trusts; A deep dive into their complexities,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, November 2023 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Heather J. Rhoades

• “The Ugly Side of Charitable Remainder Trusts; IRS crackdown on abusive tax schemes,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, October 2023 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Heather J. Rhoades

• “Crucial Timing of Charitable Contributions Avoiding the ‘anticipatory assignment-of-income’ trap” Trusts & Estate Magazine, September 2022 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Heather J. Rhoades

• “Donors’ Charitable Pledges, The Ins and Outs,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, October 2021 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Brianna L. Marquis

• 'Contracts to Make a Will,' Trusts & Estates Magazine, September 2021 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Brianna L. Marquis

• 'No Thank You: Tax, Legal and Practical Consequences of Charitable Gifts Returned to Donors,' Trusts & Estates Magazine, January 2020 Issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell and Brianna L. Marquis

• 'Cryptocurrency - Estate and Charitable Planning and Compliance,' Trusts & Estates Magazine, January 2019, co-authored with Conrad Teitell and Katherine A. McAllister

• Power of Attorney, Connecticut, Practical Law Guide, co-author, Thomson Reuters

• Estate Tax: Connecticut, Practical Law Guide, co-author, Thomson Reuters

• Ancillary Estate Proceedings in Connecticut, Practical Law Guide, co-author, Thomson Reuters

• “Substantiating Charitable Deductions at the IRS,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, July 2017,co-authored with Conrad Teitell and Cara Howe Santoro

• “Charitable Remainder Trust Pitfalls,” Trusts & Estates Magazine, October 2015, co-author with Conrad Teitell

Articles

•Donors’ Charitable Pledges
• Contracts to Make a Will
• No Thank You: Tax, Legal and Practical Consequences of Charitable Gifts Returned to Donors
• Cryptocurrency - Estate and Charitable Planning and Compliance
• Substantiating Charitable Deductions at the IRS
• Gene Wilders Real-Life Golden Ticket
• Charitable Remainder Trust Pitfalls
• Termination of Charitable Remainder Trusts

Books & Guides

•Estate Tax in Connecticut
• Power of Attorney in Connecticut
• Ancillary Estate Proceedings in Connecticut

News & Press Releases

• 29 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in Connecticut for 2023
• West Hartford Office - 2023 Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch
• Cummings & Lockwood Garners the Top Spot in Private Wealth Law and Private Wealth Disputes in Connecticut in the Chambers 2021 High Net Worth Guide
• 35 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys in Connecticut and Florida Have Been Named Among The Best Lawyers in America for 2021, 2 Attorneys Received Lawyer of the Year Awards and 8 Attorneys Have Been Identified as the Ones to Watch
• Cummings & Lockwood Garners the Top Spot in Private Wealth Law in Connecticut in the 2020 High Net Worth Guide
• 24 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys Named in the 2020 Edition of Connecticut’s Best Lawyers
• 34 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys in Connecticut and Florida Named Among The Best Lawyers in America for 2020
• Cummings & Lockwood Garners the Top Spot in Private Wealth Law in the 2019 Chambers High Net Worth Guide
• Heather J. Rhoades and Kelley Galica Peck Selected as 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” Honorees by Best Lawyers
• Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys in Connecticut and Florida Named 2019 Best Lawyers in America
• 17 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys Have Been Named 2018 New England Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
• Cummings & Lockwood Recognized As One of the Leading Trusts and Estates Practices in Connecticut by Chambers & Partners
• 32 Cummings & Lockwood LLC Attorneys Named to 2018 Best Lawyers List
• 17 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys Have Been Named 2017 Connecticut Super Lawyers and 2017 Rising Stars
• 16 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys Have Been Named 2016 Connecticut Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
• 21 Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys in Connecticut and Florida Named 2017 Best Lawyers in America
• Heather J. Rhoades Named Principal-in-Charge of Cummings & Lockwoods West Hartford, Connecticut Office
• Heather J. Rhoades Named 2016 Hartford Trusts & Estates Attorney of the Year
• Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys in Connecticut and Florida Named The Best Lawyers in America for 2016
• Cummings & Lockwood Attorneys in Connecticut and Florida Named The Best Lawyers in America for 2015

Videos

• An Introduction to Cummings & Lockwood's Private Clients Group

• Charitable Planning

 

Heather J. Rhoades (West Hartford, Connecticut) View website

Awards

Peer Reviewed Rated
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Martindale-Hubbell Peer PR

Client Champion Awards

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Champion Badge Silver

At least three reviews and a score of 4.0 or higher.

Champion Badge Gold

At least six reviews and a score of 4.2 or higher.

Champion Badge Platinum

At least ten reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.

Martindale Peer Awards

A lawyer who receives a minimum threshold of qualifying responses from fellow attorneys can qualify for one of three prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings:

Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating

AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Distinguished Rating

Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Notable Rating

Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Avvo Awards

Avvo Top Contributor

Avvo Top Contributor: The Avvo Top Contributor Award is granted to attorneys who have earned significant contribution points in a given year on our sister site, Avvo.com. Contribution points are earned by answering questions in Q&A, publishing Legal Guides, and other useful contributions to the Avvo community.

Avvo Client Choice

Avvo Client’s Choice: The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.

Reviews for Heather J. Rhoades

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Overall Rating
4.9
See All Reviews
17
Lawyers.com
Not yet reviewed
4.9
Martindale
17
Avvo
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Services

Areas of Law

  • Other 10
    • Private Clients Group - Chair
    • Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning
    • Probate and Estate Administration
    • Fiduciary and Trustee Services
    • Wealth Protection Planning
    • Philanthropic Giving
    • National Charitable Planning Group
    • Business Succession Planning
    • Estate Planning for Corporate Executives
    • Tax Controversy and Litigation

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1999, Connecticut
    Memberships

    Professional Organizations

    •The American College of Trusts & Estates Counsel (ACTEC), fellow
    •Connecticut Bar Association, Estate and Probate Section, Executive Committee
    •American Bar Association
    •Estate and Business Planning Council of Hartford, Past President

  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    University of Connecticut School of Law
    Class of 1999
    J.D.
    summa cum laude
    Other Education
    University of Connecticut
    B.A.
    summa cum laude

    University of Connecticut
    B.A.
    1996 Phi Beta Kappa
  • Personal Details & History
    Age
    Born in 1974
    Norman, Oklahoma, April 19, 1974

Contact Heather J. Rhoades

Principal at Cummings & Lockwood LLC
4.9
17 reviews

Blue Back Square, 75 Isham Road, Suite 400West Hartford, CT 06107U.S.A.

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Fax: 860.313.4968

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Attorneys FAQs

  • What year was this attorney first admitted to the bar?
    Heather J. Rhoades was admitted in 1999 to the State of Connecticut.
  • Is this attorney Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review rated?
    Yes, Heather J. Rhoades has a 4.9 Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
  • How many attorneys are in this law firm?
    Cummings & Lockwood LLC has 75 attorneys at this location.
  • What law school did this attorney attend?
    Heather J. Rhoades attended University of Connecticut School of Law.
  • Is this attorney listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers?
    Heather J. Rhoades is listed in the Banking Law, Business Law, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, Trusts and Estates and Wills and Probate section of the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

Attorney information displayed in this FAQ section is based upon information the lawyer has included on their profile, in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals.

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