ESTATE PLANNING – Estate Planning

Estate planning is rarely the first thing on people's minds when they remarry. However, it is crucial to update your existing plan or create a brand new plan right away. Estate planning requires a careful balancing act to protect the rights of your current spouse,...

No, most people do not already have an estate plan. At least in the United States, studies have found that 67% of Americans do not have a plan at this time. The other 33% have done some level of estate planning, though it may not be very comprehensive. It is worth...

If you own assets in more than one state, you may wonder whether your New Jersey will is enough to handle everything. The short answer is yes, but it is rarely that straightforward in practice. In most cases, a properly executed New Jersey will can typically express...

Leaving money or assets to someone you love doesn't always go the way you imagined. A beneficiary with poor financial habits can burn through an inheritance in months. It could be impulse spending, predatory lending, gambling or simply having no framework for managing...

A springing power of attorney (POA) functions exactly like its name implies. It sits quietly in the background, completely inactive, until a highly specific event activates it. This could be a sudden medical emergency or cognitive decline that leaves you unable to...

Most people don’t spend much time thinking about what may happen after they pass away. After all, life gets busy fast, and estate planning often feels like one of those things that can wait until much later. But when someone dies without a plan in place, the situation...

When a will names you as executor, you take on a significant responsibility that often arrives during a difficult time. This role carries important legal duties you must handle correctly to honor the deceased's wishes and comply with state law.  The process involves...

A life insurance policy can hold significant value. If you live in New Jersey and own substantial assets, who owns that policy may affect your estate plan. Ownership may influence estate size and access to funds later. Because of this, you may consider an irrevocable...

When you think about creating an estate plan, you are probably picturing how your assets will pass down to your loved ones when you pass away. But what would happen when debt is part of the equation? This blog covers this situation and how it may impact you and your...

Many seniors choose do-it-yourself estate planning tools because they look fast and affordable. Online forms promise easy answers, but estate planning involves more than filling in blanks. In New Jersey, small errors can cause serious legal and financial problems for...