14 02, 2018

Steps to Take When a Loved One Dies

2018-02-14T11:21:39-05:00February 14th, 2018|

When a loved one dies, administrative details are usually the furthest thing from your mind. But, there is a lot to be done, from planning a funeral to making important notifications. Some of these tasks will typically be carried out [...]

11 02, 2018

Choosing a Personal Representative for Your Estate

2018-02-14T11:21:17-05:00February 11th, 2018|

When you prepare a will in New Jersey, you’ll choose a personal representative to handle administration of your estate. You will typically also choose a successor, in case the personal representative you chose is unable or unwilling to fulfill the [...]

8 02, 2018

Protect Yourself with a Financial Power of Attorney

2018-02-08T15:52:42-05:00February 8th, 2018|

It may not be immediately obvious how giving another person the potential to control your bank accounts and financial transactions will protect you. Granting someone else financial power of attorney may feel risky. In fact, there are risks associated with [...]

23 01, 2018

End-of-Life Care Decision Making

2024-01-29T11:24:37-05:00January 23rd, 2018|

Just as we create estate plans for our eventual demise, we also need to plan ahead for the possibility that we will become sick and unable to make our own medical decisions. Medical science has created many miracles, among them [...]

13 01, 2018

Avoid the Most Significant Real Estate Investment Risk

2023-12-27T05:35:04-05:00January 13th, 2018|

When you hear that real estate investment can be risky, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the possibility that you’ll end up taking a loss on the investment property. Maybe the local market will decline, and the [...]

11 01, 2018

Is a Handwritten Will Valid in New Jersey?

2018-02-02T22:10:31-05:00January 11th, 2018|

A handwritten will, also known as a “holographic will,” may be valid if certain requirements are met. In fact, it may seem that a handwritten will has advantages. For example, a holographic will can be valid even without the witness [...]

7 01, 2018

Estate Planning for Mixed Families

2018-02-02T22:10:31-05:00January 7th, 2018|

Estate planning for mixed families is a bit more complicated, and requires specific consideration of the treatment of stepchildren and the path assets will follow after the death of one spouse. When one or both spouses has children with someone [...]

5 01, 2018

Asset Protection for Beneficiaries and Heirs

2023-12-27T04:18:50-05:00January 5th, 2018|

Often, people think about asset protection simply as a way to minimize risk during their lifetimes, separating risk management from estate planning. However, asset protection for beneficiaries can play a significant role in estate planning—especially when there are concerns about [...]

2 01, 2018

How Do I Change a Will in New Jersey?

2018-02-02T22:10:32-05:00January 2nd, 2018|

Creating a will is an important step in estate planning, but circumstances change. It is important to review your will and other estate planning documents periodically, and to assess whether or not they are still appropriate when certain events occur. [...]

30 12, 2017

Understanding the New Jersey Retirement Income Tax Exclusion   

2022-03-12T13:29:26-05:00December 30th, 2017|

New Jersey has long provided state income tax exclusions for pensions and other retirement income. The state doesn’t tax Social Security benefits at all, and even provides a special exclusion for taxpayers aged 62 and up who are not eligible [...]