An incomplete estate plan can cause a person's assets to be tied up in the New Jersey probate process for years. Additionally, end-of-life decisions about finances, life support, and other emotional issues could be left in the hands of a judge if clear directions have...
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Year: 2015
Avoiding estate planning errors in New Jersey
While many people in New Jersey have probably heard that it's important to complete estate planning, too many people put it off until it's too late, passing away without a will or trust in place to distribute their assets. Still others fail to ever update their estate...
Estate planning benefits for gay married couples
Thanks to the Supreme Court decision on June 26, same-sex couples can now enjoy the same rights and privileges of marriage as heterosexual couples, and this includes the same rights in estate planning. While marriage was already legal for gay couples in New Jersey, a...
Wills and other estate planning options
For some New Jersey residents, a will may not be the best estate-planning tool. In some cases, a will may get tied up in probate for months. Probate can also be expensive. However, families of individuals who opt for do-it-yourself estate planning tools may still find...
Executors and their roles
Most New Jersey residents who are contemplating the preparation of their wills know that one of the important tasks is the appointment of an executor. This person is entrusted with a wide variety of responsibilities, one of the most important of which is ensuring that...
Estate planning advantages of revocable trusts
Revocable trusts play key roles in many New Jersey estate plans. They allow the grantor to direct the distribution of assets in accordance with the trust's instructions without incurring the expenses associated with probate. Indeed, in most cases the trust operates...
Understanding the need to revisit estate planning document
New Jersey residents interested in estate planning issues may wish to know why their current documents may be obsolete. Because circumstances and law are subject to change, the older documents may no longer have the effect that they once did. Wills and other...
The benefits of preparing a will
Having a will is important for all New Jersey adults regardless of whether they have many assets or few. Without a will, the state decides how to distribute the individual's possessions after their death. With a will, a person appoints an executor to administer the...
Estate planning considerations in New Jersey
Traditionally, estate plans were written in order to address taxes, family and charity. With changing tax laws, however, there are more directions in which people may focus with their estate plans. The prior focus was due to lower estate tax exemptions combined with...
Helping loved ones with managing the estate
People in New Jersey may want to think about how they may best help their loved ones with managing their estates after they pass. Good estate planning involves more than simply getting all of the documents drafted and in place. If loved ones are ill equipped to manage...