Flemington Legal Blog

Probate is a legal process that involves the distribution of a person's estate based on the instructions left in their will. Once a person passes on their will goes to probate and is reviewed to ensure that it meets the technical requirements for a valid legal document. New Jersey and other states throughout the nation have their own rules for what a will must contain in order to be valid.

Therefore, one of the ways that a will may be challenged in probate is through the assertion that it does not meet the requirements of a valid will. An interested party may claim that the decedent lacked testamentary capacity when they signed their will, or that the will lacks the signatures of witnesses. Technical deficiencies in a will may lead to its challenge and eventual invalidation.

Many alleged criminal acts are identifiable by the actions that the alleged perpetrators undertake. For example, if a New Jersey resident is alleged to have committed battery then their case may move forward on evidence that they hit their alleged victim. However, action is not the only element that prosecutors must prove to convict individuals of criminal charges. There is a mental component to many criminal charges that must also be proven at trial.

That mental component is often referred to as mens rea, or the guilty mind. Individuals often will not be found criminally liable for their actions if they did not intend to commit crimes. For example, a person who absentmindedly carries an item out of the store, realizes their mistake and goes back to remedy their actions may not be charged with theft because they did not intend to deprive the store of the item without first paying for it.

A severe jarring or blow to the head can result in a devastating brain injury. Even if you see no external wound or obvious damage, the brain may have suffered bruising, tearing or bleeding that can result in traumatic and irreversible effects. The destruction of brain tissue cannot be reversed.

If your loved one recently suffered such an injury to the head in a fall, a motor vehicle collision or other accident caused by someone else's negligence or recklessness, you may have no idea what to do next or where to turn for help. It is natural to feel confused and overwhelmed, but the more information you gain about your circumstances, the better you will be able to make critical decisions about your loved one's care.

Different parcels of land touch at their boundary lines. When a New Jersey resident reviews the title to a parcel they may find the legal description of how the parcel is situated and how far it extends. It is often possible for individuals to go back to their land use and ownership documents to find out exactly where their properties start and their neighbors' properties end.

However, when land descriptions are incomplete or purportedly inaccurate, individuals may need to look into other options to resolve their boundary disputes. They may choose to have a new survey of the land in question done to re-establish the right division lines between the properties. They may also choose to come to an agreement concerning where the boundary lines should lie; when this option is exercised the property owners may wish to execute quitclaim deeds to formalize the agreement.