Everyone should have an estate plan in place. It is a plan that helps protect your best interests and those of the ones you love in the face of an otherwise uncertain future. Because estate plans are such a reflection of a person and family’s circumstances and situation, every estate plan can and should look...

Q: Should I give my children their inheritance before I die? New York and New Jersey estate planning attorneys know that everyone loves their children and wants the best for them. It’s what drives many parents to leave them a nice inheritance after they’re gone. But is that the best—or only--strategy? Some parents — who are...

People often are not aware that estate plans need to be reviewed and updated on occasion. Putting an estate plan is an important thing to do, but it is not a set it and forget it kind of thing. As your life changes, circumstances change, and laws change, so should you consider updating...

Have you been tempted by ads proclaiming the ease and low expense of DIY estate planning? There seem to be more and more websites popping up where you can purchase estate planning documents to fill out yourself. Maybe this has appealed to you because estate planning has been on your to-do list forever...

So, you have taken the important step of putting an estate plan in place. Congratulations! You have put solid protections in place for your future and that of your family. Now, the question becomes, where should you store these important documents? A seemingly easy question, where you store your estate planning documents can...

Oftentimes, people most strongly associated estate plans with the creation of a will. While a will often plays a central role in an estate plan, there are a variety of other legal tools that can play prominent roles. Trusts, for instance, can be very useful in an estate plan. With a trust, you transfer...

Have you considered everything that can and should be addressed by an estate plan? It is much more than having a Last Will and Testament and providing for the proper distribution of your assets upon your death, although this is an important part of it. A strong estate plan is more comprehensive. It...

Q: How is estate planning different for single people? Very often, estate planning and retirement planning go hand-in-hand. Before your estate planning attorney can customize an estate plan for you, you’ll need to provide a clear picture of your finances – – including assets and liabilities. You also need to know how your property...

Family estrangement is not nearly as rare as you may think. Throughout the centuries, history, literature, and mythology have been dappled with ungrateful or malicious children who become estranged from their parents. Though most people don’t discuss major tears in their own family fabric, Scientific American reports that a recent study of young adults...

Q: How can a second marriage impact an estate plan? Unfortunately, first marriages don’t always last forever. Whether they end in divorce or death, a second (or third) trip down the aisle is very common. Before taking the plunge again, many see a divorce attorney for a prenuptial agreement to protect their financial future and that...