Resources

The probate process in New Jersey is relatively easy, inexpensive, and streamlined compared with other states such as New York or California. Under New Jersey law, probate requires that the named executor bring a death certificate and the original Last Will and Testament of the decedent to the surrogate’s office […]

Standing to Challenge a Will A person has “standing” to challenge a will if the person is named as a beneficiary in the Will or, although not named as a beneficiary, would inherit if the Will was held to be invalid. In other words, to have standing, you must be […]

Upon the death of an individual, the family or next of kin should determine whether the deceased person (referred to as the “decedent”) left a Last Will and Testament. If so, they should review the Will and identify the person named in the Will as the executor. It then becomes […]

The basic goal of post-death tax planning for estates is to reduce taxes for the decedent’s estate and the beneficiaries. An executor has many opportunities available for making the right elections that will have a direct impact on the overall tax liability of the estate and beneficiaries. The failure to […]