About James Couch

Attorney James G. Couch has been a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association since 1982. He is a member of the Probate and Trust Committee of the Rhode Island Bar Association and the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. His practice concentrates on the areas of Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, with a particular emphasis on Living Trust Centered Estate Planning. Mr. Couch provides legal services to Rhode Islanders whose estate planning needs vary, from a simple will to the most complex estate plans. He has championed the use of revocable living trusts as a proven way to protect families from the expense and delay of probate and to minimize or eliminate estate taxes. Mr. Couch frequently presents free seminars throughout Rhode Island educating the public about the importance of proper estate planning. Seminar topics include living trust, wills, powers of attorney, health directives, nursing home issues and advanced estate planning techniques.

Experience

Mr. Couch began his legal career as a Trust Officer in the Trust Department of Bank Boston, (formerly Rhode Island Hospital Trust National Bank) in 1981. In 1983, he left the bank to practice law with a small firm in Rhode Island. For two years, he was a general practitioner and gained valuable experience in the areas of estate planning, probate, real estate, divorce, personal injury, collections and taxation. In 1985, he decided that estate planning was the area of law to which he would dedicate his career. He left the general practice of law and accepted a position in the Trust Department at Fleet National Bank, where he served as an Assistant Vice President. At Fleet, Couch gained five valuable years of experience and further honed his estate planning skills before leaving in July of 1990 to start his own law firm, with offices currently located in Warwick and South Kingstown.

Education

James Couch received his undergraduate degree in Political Science With Distinction from the University of Rhode Island in 1977. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Northwestern School of Law-Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon in 1981. He regularly attends Continuing Legal Education courses so he can continue providing cutting edge advice to his clients.

Personal

Both native Rhode Islanders, Couch and his wife, Nancy, who also works at the law firm and is active in various functions within the practice, have three children: Trevor, Chelsea and Hannah. Mr. Couch has served as a director and/or trustee for various Rhode Island charitable and non-profit organizations over the past 18 years. He enjoys travel, music and just about any sport or outdoor activity.

About the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

The Academy is a national organization dedicated to promoting excellence in estate planning by providing its exclusive membership of attorneys with up-to-date research on estate and tax planning, educational materials, and other important resources to empower them to provide superior estate planning services. The Academy expects members to have at least 36 hours of legal education each year specifically in estate, tax, probate and/or elder law subjects. To ensure this goal is met, the Academy provides over 40 hours of continuing legal education each year. For over 16 years, the Academy has also been a highly-regarded and sought-after resource for attorneys and consumers alike, and has been recognized by Consumer Reports, Suze Orman in her book, 9 Steps to Financial Freedom and numerous times by Money Magazine.