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
- "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
- "Termination of Charitable Remainder Trusts," Trusts & Estates Magazine, October 2014, co-author with Conrad Teitell
- "Gifting a Personal Residence or Farm," Trusts & Estates Magazine, July 2011 issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell
- "Charitable Gifts with Use Strings Attached," Trusts & Estates Magazine, October 2010
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

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
- "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
- "Termination of Charitable Remainder Trusts," Trusts & Estates Magazine, October 2014, co-author with Conrad Teitell
- "Gifting a Personal Residence or Farm," Trusts & Estates Magazine, July 2011 issue, co-author with Conrad Teitell
- "Charitable Gifts with Use Strings Attached," Trusts & Estates Magazine, October 2010
- 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