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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

For many people, the term “asset protection” brings to mind safes and alarm systems. Though physically protecting your valuables is important, true asset protection is much more sophisticated. What is Asset Protection for New Jersey Residents? So, what is asset…