Blog

The objective a thoughtful estate plan is to address the unique and sometimes pressing needs of a client and their family. Some plans are straightforward because there is only a single child or spouse, but the high rate of divorce means that many drafting a will, trust or estate plan often will include second (or third) wives, biological children and step-children. It can get even more tangled if there are grandchildren or even great-grandchildren involved...

While the emotional effects of losing a loved one can linger for a long time, there are some important realities those close to the deceased will have to deal with in the short term. One of those important items will be the disposition of that person’s property, known as the process of estate administration. When a person passes away, that person’s estate enters probate, which is directed by the courts. The court will oversee this...

If you are someone who has been diligent in managing and saving your money so that when you pass you can provide a significant amount of assets to your heirs, you may be frustrated with a process called probate. Based on the size of your estate, when going through probate your beneficiaries may not be receiving as much of your inheritance as you may have wished. At the time of your death, the legal process...

Life can change in the blink of an eye. As such, it is pretty safe to assume that things can change a great deal over the course of several years, including a person’s financial situation. This can lead to an heir receiving a much smaller inheritance or even no inheritance upon the death of a loved one. In many cases, beneficiaries of a deceased party are completely unaware of a decedent’s financial affairs. While the...

Many people in New Jersey have an opinion on what end-of-life medical care they would like to receive when the time comes. There are a variety of legal documents that a person can execute through estate planning, to ensure these wishes are met. Two of these documents are a power of attorney and a living will. A health care power of attorney is a document in which a person designates someone to make health...

Small business owners in New Jersey may be eager to see their fledgling enterprise grow into a profitable business. After all, they may have put much thought and care into the creation and running of their business. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be some stumbling blocks along the path to success. There are a variety of small business law conflicts that could arise within the course of doing business. For example, breach of...

Being chosen to be the executor of an estate in New Jersey is an honor, but it is also a role that carries with it many responsibilities. Probate and estate administration is governed by state law. However, in general, there are a number of duties the executor of an estate is obligated to fulfill. The executor must locate the assets of the deceased. Once located, the executor must make sure those assets are kept...

The consumer-driven model of health care has been commonplace in the United States since the early 2000s. Rapidly picking up steam in the medical insurance marketplace since 2005, high-deductible policies, paired with a Health Savings Account (HAS) have become the norm. As a result of this, more Americans are paying the entire bill for much of their health care, that is, unless they meet their four-figure deductible. While lowering health care premiums for some,...

Most people do not think about estate planning in their 20s. Creating an estate plan seems like a task for far in the future, when you have more assets and are thinking about retiring. However, having an estate plan in place as early as possible is a good move for you and your family. If you do not have an estate plan, it is never too early to start creating one. If you have...

Many people avoid signing a power of attorney document at all costs because they mistakenly think it will take away all of their control over their financial decisions. However, signing a power of attorney may give you more control than you think. A financial power of attorney is a document that appoints someone, called an agent or attorney-in-fact, to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf. Some of these decisions may include paying your...