Estate Planning & Wills
Protect your legacy and give your family confidence for the future with a comprehensive estate plan.
You've worked hard to build your life and provide for your family. A comprehensive estate plan ensures that your wishes are honored, your loved ones are protected, and your legacy is preserved — whether your estate is substantial or modest.
Many people put off estate planning because it feels uncomfortable to think about. But the absence of a plan can leave your family facing difficult, expensive, and avoidable legal complications at an already difficult time.
"A will directs how property is distributed, names beneficiaries, and can help reduce disputes after death. Proper estate planning ensures your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected."
Wills
A Last Will and Testament is the cornerstone of any estate plan. In your will, you direct how your property is distributed, name guardians for minor children, and appoint an executor to carry out your wishes.
- Drafting and execution of simple and complex wills
- Review and updating of existing wills
- Pour-over wills (coordinated with trusts)
- Nomination of guardians for minor children
- Specific bequests and charitable giving provisions
Powers of Attorney
A durable power of attorney designates someone you trust to manage your financial and legal affairs if you become incapacitated. Without one, your family may need to pursue costly guardianship proceedings through the courts.
- General durable power of attorney
- Limited / special power of attorney
- Springing power of attorney (effective upon incapacity)
Advance Healthcare Directives / Living Wills
A healthcare directive — also known as a living will — specifies your wishes regarding medical treatment if you cannot speak for yourself. A healthcare proxy designates a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf.
- Advance directive for healthcare (living will)
- Designation of healthcare representative
- POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) guidance
Probate & Estate Administration
Probate is the court-supervised process of distributing a deceased person's estate. We assist executors and administrators through every step — from filing the initial petition to final distribution — to ensure the process is handled properly and efficiently.
- Probate filings with the New Jersey Surrogate's Court
- Notification of creditors and beneficiaries
- Estate accounting and inventory
- Distribution of assets to beneficiaries
- Estate tax planning and returns
Guardianships & Conservatorships
When a loved one can no longer manage their own affairs — an elder law concern as well — a guardianship or conservatorship proceeding may be necessary. We guide families through this process with sensitivity and efficiency.
- Guardianship of incapacitated adults
- Guardianship of minors
- Limited guardianships
Beneficiary Designations
Many assets — including retirement accounts, life insurance, and certain bank accounts — pass outside of your will through beneficiary designations. We review and coordinate these designations to ensure your overall plan works as intended.
Estate Planning FAQ
A Will is a written document directing how an estate will be distributed after death. It can also appoint a guardian for minor or mentally incapacitated children.
New Jersey statutes will determine how your estate is distributed. This means the state's intestacy laws — not your wishes — decide who inherits your property and who raises your children. A properly drafted will is the only way to ensure your intentions are carried out.
Probate is the legal process that makes a will genuine. This process is carried out by the Surrogate's Court in the county where the testator resided at the time of death. We assist executors through every step of New Jersey probate, from filing the initial petition to final distribution of assets.
Yes — anyone who owns property or has dependents should have a will. Without one, New Jersey's intestacy laws determine who inherits your assets, and a court will decide who raises your children. A will gives you direct control over both. Even a simple, properly drafted will provides enormous peace of mind for your family.
A will takes effect only after death and must go through probate court before your assets are distributed. A trust can take effect immediately, allows assets to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate, and can provide ongoing management of assets for children, spouses, or loved ones with special needs. Many comprehensive estate plans include both.
We recommend reviewing your estate plan every three to five years, or after any major life change: marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, a significant change in assets, or the death of a named beneficiary or executor. New Jersey law also changes periodically — what worked five years ago may no longer be optimal today.
New Jersey repealed its estate tax in 2018, but it still has an inheritance tax — one of only a handful of states that do. The rate and exemptions vary based on your relationship to the beneficiary. Spouses and direct-line relatives (children, grandchildren, parents) are generally exempt. Elder law and estate planning strategies can help minimize the impact of inheritance taxes on your heirs.
A healthcare directive (sometimes called a living will) tells medical providers your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment if you cannot speak for yourself. It also typically designates a healthcare proxy — someone authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf. Every adult should have one, regardless of age or health. Without it, family members may disagree about your care, or medical providers may follow default procedures rather than your wishes.
Protecting What You've Built
Create a Plan That Protects Your Legacy
A will or estate plan isn't just paperwork — it's peace of mind for you and clarity for your family. Nicole works with you personally to design a plan that reflects your wishes and protects the people you love.