Trust Decanting in Estate Planning is a Great Strategy to Change an Irrevocable Trust
Irrevocable trusts are beneficial for estate tax purposes. They allow you to place your assets into a trust, potentially avoiding additional estate tax when …
Estate Planning for Blended Families
Many couples and spouses fail to get serious about estate planning until they are well into middle age. By then, one or both of …
Have You Selected the Right Person as Your Agent Under Your Power of Attorney?
When creating either (or both) an estate plan or a power of attorney, an important decision involves who to name as your fiduciary. By …
Federal Gift Tax Returns: Avoiding Mistakes
Under the tax code, the general rules applicable to income tax returns apply to annual gift tax returns. That is, a 3-year statute of …
Understanding the Legal Impact of a Premarital Agreement in a Second Marriage
New Jersey law allows a spouse to waive his or her right to inherit the estate of a deceased spouse. A spouse’s premarital waiver …
Can Creditors Make a Claim against Joint Account Assets in New Jersey after Death?
The decedent owned several joint bank accounts with his wife. He died intestate, meaning he died without a will or trust in place. Under New …
Be Careful About How Often You “Roll Over” Your IRA
A long-standing rule about how many IRA-to-IRA “rollovers” a taxpayer can make in a single year has dramatically changed. Read this post to avoid …
What to Do When a Person Cannot Physically Sign a Last Will and Testament
Recently, a client wanted to sign her Last Will but because of a stroke and inability to speak; she was unable to sign it. …
Do You Have the Right Fiduciary for Your Estate?
Warning: Your Selection Does Matter When creating an estate plan, especially in your will and/or trust, an important decision you must make is the …
Spotlight on NJ Elder Law: What Families Really Need to Know Before a Crisis Hits an Elderly Family Member
When I meet with new clients, the first appointment is often with the children of aging parents. Commonly, they come to us just before …
A Sad Story of an Estate Plan Screwed Up Because of a Homemade (Internet Store) Will
A recent inquiry to my office illustrates the risks of a “do it yourself” last will. Here, the person used a common will software …
Can a Contingent Beneficiary Demand an Accounting?
Can any trust beneficiary can compel a trustee to account? Does the type of contingency make a difference? While trust beneficiaries generally can seek …
If Someone Dies Immediately Before Signing a Will, Can it Be Salvaged?
Can a copy be treated as an original if the original is lost? Is a Will signed electronically during quarantine valid? Traditionally, a deceased …
Contracts to Make or Revoke a Will – Preserving Your Estate Plan
Many of our couples who seek estate planning execute “sweetheart wills.” That is, each executes a will stating that upon the death of the …
Gift Taxes vs. Inheritance Taxes: Which is Worse?
Generally, there is no income tax imposed upon assets beneficiaries inherit. However, when they later sell inherited assets, (i.e., appreciated securities and real estate), …
When Should I Be Looking to Do an Estate Plan?
When you die, you will leave an estate. Your estate is comprised of everything you owned, saved and accumulated during your life. It is …
Is an Inherited IRA Protected from Bankruptcy and Creditors?
New Jersey has fraudulent transfer laws that prevent property “made in trust” for a debtor to be available to creditors to satisfy their debts. …
Naming a Guardian in a Will
It is a good idea when drafting a last will and testament that you put language in there appointing a guardian for your minor …
What is a “Durable Power of Attorney”, and What Authority Does It Grant?
A power of attorney (POA) is a written document under which an individual, called the principal, appoints either another individual or legal entity as …
Can I Control What Happens to My Corpse After My Passing?
While working on health care directives, I have had clients ask me about leaving special instructions for their loved ones on what they can …
Hey, Mr. Executor, Know Your Role
If you have been named as an estate representative, knowing your responsibilities is very important. The following article is a general introduction to your …
Does an Inherited IRA Have Creditor Protection Status Under NJ Law
In some states creditors can seize an Inherited IRA The IRS and Bankruptcy Court(s) can also seize an Inherited IRA This article discusses inherited …
Taxation of Special Needs Trust Made Simple(er)
This article discusses basic tax principles of a Special Needs Trust; hereafter referred to at times as a SNT. Each Type of Special Needs …
To Make a Gift to a Minor Beneficiary, Do You Always Need to Set Up a Trust?
Consider making a gift to a minor by way of the Uniform Transfer to Minors Act or the Uniform Gift to Minors Act instead …
Your Federal and State Income Taxes Are Not Affected by Creating a Properly Drafted Revocable Trust
A Revocable Trust is a popular estate planning tool. Some people think that creation of a Revocable Trust creates complexity under the tax code. …
A Tragic Case of a Young West Point Cadet Who Died Wanting to Preserve His Legacy
The parents of a deceased cadet at the West Point Military Academy (“West Point”) who was scheduled to graduate last year was involved in …
A Will Should Not Include a Personal Property Clause
Personal property items should be discussed in your Last Will. Do not itemize personal property in your Will, but rather create a list of …
If the Federal Estate Tax Exemption is Reduced in the Future, Will Your Estate Be Penalized?
Today the Federal Estate death tax exemption is very high. Only the very wealthy are subject to federal death taxes. The law may change …
Remote Notary Act Memo
Recently, New Jersey law changed to allow attorneys and notaries to notarize documents over video conference. This is important for business owners who need …
To POLST or Not to POLST? Your Answer May Kill You!
POLSTS are simple forms which can help patients express their wishes in the event they cannot express them for themselves. A “POLST” is a …