Associate, Business and Finance Department
Trusts and Estates Group
267.443.4131
[email protected]
Franca Tavella is an associate in Kleinbard’s Business and Finance Department and a member of the Firm’s Trust and Estates Group. Franca primarily focuses her practice on estate planning, estate and trust administration, and taxation. She is experienced in drafting wills, trusts, special needs trusts, powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney, living wills, and prenuptial agreements. In addition, Franca assists clients with the formation of charitable and non-profit organizations, including qualification of tax-exempt status.
Franca also has a special focus on limited and plenary guardianships of the person and estate of incapacitated individuals. Whether a guardianship is sought on behalf of a child with special needs or an elderly or otherwise disabled family member, she handles all aspects of guardianship proceedings. Once appointed, Franca advises the guardian in his or her fiduciary role and assists in the preparation and filing of all requisite reports to ensure timely compliance through Pennsylvania’s Guardianship Tracking System.
Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law (J.D., 2016)
Saint Joseph’s University (B.A., cum laude, 2010)
Pennsylvania
Professional Associations
Philadelphia Bar Association
Philadelphia Estate Planning Council
Recognitions & Accomplishments
In 2021, Franca was named to the list of “Ones to Watch” by Best Lawyers in America.
Publications
Co-Author, How the 2020 Elections and Ongoing Pandemic Can Impact Your Estate Plan, Philadelphia Estate Planning Council (Fall 2020)
Co-author, COVID 19: Quarantine And… Prepare An Estate Plan?. Kleinbard LLC (April 2020)
Author, New Jersey Enacts Aid in Dying Act. White and Williams LLC (August 2019)
Author, IRS Ends Certain State Workarounds to SALT Deduction. White and Williams LLC (June 2019)
Co-author, Estate Planning Tools to Put to Work in a Higher-Interest Rate Environment. Legal Intelligencer (February 2019)
Author, Economic Nexus Laws: Following Wayfair, US States Take Action, White and Williams LLC (June 2018)
Speaking Engagements
Presenter, Guardianship in the Media, Sports & Entertainment Law and Trusts & Estates Societies at Rutgers Law School (04/15/2021)
Prior Experience
Prior to joining Kleinbard, Franca was an associate in the Trusts and Estates Group at White and Williams LLP. Before that, Franca clerked for the Honorable Matthew D. Carrafiello, Administrative Judge of the Philadelphia Orphans’ Court.
Volunteer, Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association
Volunteers for the Indigent Program (VIP)