New Jersey residents who are worried about their estate wishes being honored after death have several options. First, it may be possible to enter into a formal contract with a spouse to ensure that the terms of a will are not changed. It may be worthwhile to create a...
Results-Oriented Legal Services
Year: 2016
Estate planning basics
Estate planning is not only important for New Jersey residents who have a lot of money in the bank. Even people with a minor amount of assets and who have a family should write a basic estate plan so that their assets are distributed correctly after their death. Dying...
Choosing the right beneficiary
New Jersey residents should be aware of the importance of keeping their beneficiary designations up to date and making th right choice. There are a number of assets that are passed on using a beneficiary designation including retirement accounts and life insurance. A...
The importance of powers of attorney for elderly relatives
New Jersey residents may believe that the benefits of estate planning only really become apparent when a loved one passes away, but documents like powers of attorney and health care directives can be crucially important if a family member is left incapacitated by an...
Creating a special needs trust
New Jersey residents who are creating an estate plan may want to consider setting up a special needs trust for a disabled child who will need care. With a properly-created and administered special needs trust, eligibility for certain government benefits such as...
Divorce and estate planning
New Jersey couples who are considering a divorce may have to think beyond their immediate concerns, such as child support or asset division. Many couples also find it beneficial to create property or marital settlement agreements, or PSAs, that include estate terms....
Differing ideas about the meaning of inheritances
One error some New Jersey residents make with their estate plans is believing that inheritances are expressions of love. Taking this approach can lead to familial conflict, and people may be better off talking about their intentions with their family members to find...
Prince’s estate thought to be worth $300 million
Many New Jersey music lovers were saddened to hear that the legendary songwriter and musician Prince passed away on April 21. The iconic 57-year-old performer won seven Grammy awards in a glittering career that spanned more than four decades, and he left behind a...
Protecting businesses with estate planning
When a New Jersey business owner dies unexpectedly, the company may be damaged if the owner did not have an estate plan in place. Owners can use several different estate planning tools in order to protect their businesses in the event something unexpected happens....
Is a bypass trust still relevant?
New Jersey residents should review their estate plans periodically to ensure that modifications are made to reflect changes in tax laws. Failure to do so could leave one's estate vulnerable to loss based on inadequate tax planning. In some cases, strategies that once...