Estate Planning Wills & Trusts
Estate Planning utilizing Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney and/or Healthcare Directives allows you to protect your wishes and enables you to safeguard your legacy, securing your loved ones’ futures. These planning tools ensure that your wishes are seamlessly carried out in the event you become incapacitated or if the worst should happen.
Without a valid Will, Trust, Powers of Attorney, or Healthcare Directive, other people could make decisions for your health or medical care, your bequests to loved ones could be ignored, and you could lose so much of what you have spent your life working for.
The risks of not having a plan in place are too great.
Take control and talk to us. We take the time to understand your specific situation and then assist in formalizing your wishes in a Will, Trust, or other Estate Plan document. We will help you get your affairs in order … as jargon-free as possible.
Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning in New Jersey
What should be included in your Estate Plan? A last Will and Testament? A Trust? Powers of Attorney for your financial affairs, or Healthcare Directive for your medical wishes if you are incapacitated?
What is a Last Will & Testament?
Your last Will and Testament (your Will) is a legal document that states what you want to happen to your property and assets after you pass away. You can specify what you would like to leave to your loved ones, friends, and other entities. Your ‘property’ can be of monetary value or sentimental value. You can even add special conditions to your will.
What is a Trust?
A Trust is a legal way to protect your estate, to establish your wishes if incapacitated, and to apply your conditions on any gifts or bequests. Trust can be designed to be temporary (revocable) or permanent (irrevocable), depending upon your goals.
Advance Healthcare Directive
An Advance Healthcare Directive is a legal document setting out your medical and healthcare wishes in the event you become incapacitated. It can be a standalone document or part of your Estate Plan. Highly recommended for all adults, an advance medical directive states your treatment preferences and avoids having your family, your physician – or even a judge – from making healthcare decisions for you if your wishes are not known. Learn more about an Advance Healthcare Directive / Living Will.
What is a Power Of Attorney?
A Power of Attorney (POA) can form part of your estate plan or can be a standalone document. It is a legal document that allows a person you specify to conduct financial or legal matters on your behalf, for example an elderly parent can give a Power of Attorney to an adult child to conduct their financial affairs for them.
What Happens When You Don’t Have a Will or Estate Plan?
“Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.”
When you delay or avoid establishing a Will or Estate Plan, or these crucial documents are created without proper legal guidance, you and your loved ones are placed at great risk. Without an Estate Plan, your loved ones may end up in court fighting a chaotic and costly battle over assets that could have been seamlessly transferred. Minor children may be at risk for foster care placement. Even your own wishes for your medical care may be in jeopardy.
Take action today.
New Jersey Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning Lawyers
Take control of your legacy. Whether you are getting married, just had children, or have simply decided it is time to finally make smart decisions for your family’s future, when creating comprehensive legacy planning it is important to retain an experienced estate planning lawyer to help you establish your wishes. Our estate planning attorneys and team are committed to helping you formalize your wishes and safeguard your family’s future.
Request an initial consultation for your Estate Plan, Will or Trust on (888) 888-0919.
