Because probate can be an expensive and time-consuming process, one of the goals of estate planning may be finding ways to keep one's estate out of the probate process. Probate, as our New Jersey readers may know, is a court supervised legal proceeding in which a will...
We recently wrote about the importance of including nursing home planning within estate planning. For many people, this will include Medicaid planning.It is important to realize that Medicaid, because it is administered by states, can have a unique approach depending...
Our readers may or may not be aware, but October 15 through October 22 is Estate Planning Awareness week. Admittedly, estate planning awareness is something lawyers like because it highlights the services they can offer. But the reality is that everyone can benefit...
End of life issues are very personal and can be difficult decisions for families to make on a number of levels. Because these issues are so serious, it is important to address them as part of one's estate planning, and well ahead of time. One good reason for this is...
With the rising costs of nursing homes and long-term care, it is critical that everybody engaging in estate planning look at how they plan to fund their own care. The reality is that the average cost for care is around $73,000 per year and is on the increase. It...
Mitt Romney, in an effort to garner support from farmers in the Midwest, promised to abolish the estate tax earlier this week during a campaign in Iowa. As our New Jersey readers may know, the Bush-era tax cuts are set to expire at the end of the year, and there has...
Even as we age, we never stop filling out paperwork. This is especially true for parents of children with disabilities seeking to set up a trust for their child. Decisions about this process may affect the parent's own eligibility for Medicaid. To qualify for Medicaid...
Establishing a living trust has its benefits, but not necessarily all those typically hoped for. While some people may want to avoid probate court by having a living will in place, this may not be the best reason. In New Jersey, the costs of probate relate directly to...
