Heather J. Rhoades
Background
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.
Practice Areas
- 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
Education
- University of Connecticut School of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 1999)
- University of Connecticut (B.A., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1996)
Bar Admissions
- Connecticut, 1999
Professional Organizations
- Connecticut Bar Association, Estate and Probate Section, Executive Committee
- American Bar Association
- Estate and Business Planning Council of Hartford, Past President
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 Wilder's Real-Life Golden Ticket
- Charitable Remainder Trust Pitfalls
- Termination of Charitable Remainder Trusts
Books & Guides
- Power of Attorney in Connecticut
- Estate Tax 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 & Lockwood's 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
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Principal
Chairman of Private Clients Group
Blue Back Square
75 Isham Road, Suite 400
West Hartford,
CT
06107
T 860.313.4933
F 860.313.4968
Background
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.
- 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
- University of Connecticut School of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 1999)
- University of Connecticut (B.A., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1996)
- Connecticut, 1999
- Connecticut Bar Association, Estate and Probate Section, Executive Committee
- American Bar Association
- Estate and Business Planning Council of Hartford, Past President
- 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
- Trusts & Estates Magazine, Philanthropy Committee of the Editorial Advisory Board, Member
- Hartford Foundation, Public Giving Professional Advisory Committee, Former Member
- “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
- 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 Wilder's Real-Life Golden Ticket
- Charitable Remainder Trust Pitfalls
- Termination of Charitable Remainder Trusts
- 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 & Lockwood's 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