Attorney Spotlight: George M. Riter

When George M. Riter, Esquire, attended Gettysburg College, he majored in biology and aspired to become a physician. But along the way, a family friend and attorney piqued his interest in the legal profession. Ultimately, he decided that he could help a lot of people in a different way by becoming an attorney focusing on estate planning.

Riter joined Timoney Knox, LLP as a partner in 2001. His practice of wills, trusts, estates, and corporate law focuses on the estate planning needs of individuals, families, business owners, and non-profit entities. He has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer® since 2006, selected by his peers as among the top 5 percent of lawyers in the Commonwealth. He has also been named among Best Lawyers® in Trusts and Estates since 2019.

“In estate planning, you can become a family advisor, planning for multi-generations,” said Riter. “You deal with tax issues, partnerships, philanthropy, real estate easements and transfers, S corporations and LLCs. Often you have relationships with clients that are long-term and by be multi-generational. I enjoy the personal connection to families. You become the trusted advisor, the go-to person, the quarterback.”

Riter’s approach is to thoroughly review each client’s unique situation, including the family dynamics, and to assist clients with analyzing assets, managing liabilities, and reducing exposure to inheritance, estate and related taxes. He is often called upon to analyze life insurance and structure proper ownership, as well as creditor protection and charitable planning, both during and after a client’s life.

“Planning and transferring wealth with minimal taxes is important to our clients. I often help them set up trusts for subsequent generations without any gift tax consequences, and potentially fold in other assets,” said Riter. “We also help them protect in the future against potential divorces and creditors, and make sure their assets are not attackable in the case of a car accident.”

In addition, Riter is increasingly assisting clients with planning and managing assets they may own in other countries.

Riter also has extensive experience in corporate and business law, working with companies of all sizes, from small closely-held businesses to multimillion-dollar enterprises. He advises individuals and corporations on tax-related matters as well as merger and acquisition-related issues.

An alumnus of St. Mary’s University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas, Riter also received a master’s degree in taxation from Villanova University School of Law.

A lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area, he graduated from Germantown Academy in 1976 and has served as a member of the school’s Board of Trustees from 2004-2013 and 2019 to present. He has also served on the Board of Trustees of The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education and Wissahickon Trails.