Attorneys that handle Estates & Trusts are:

• • Valerie L. Howe
  • Sharon A. Dragan
  • Ian T. Hammett
  • Kevin Van Hise
  • David R. Demaree
  • Julia L. Pickett

The firm’s Estates & Trusts Practice Group offers a wide array of planning strategies for estates of every size and complexity. The Group’s members are experienced in the fields of federal and state tax laws and related areas relevant to estate planning and administration.

What Legal Documents Does Your College Student Need?

What Legal Documents Does Your College Student Need?

For college students, March may mean basketball tournaments and spring break; for college-bound high school students, March is typically the time to begin thinking with anticipation about college selection decisions. As families begin to plan for their child’s transition into college, there are many practical logistics to consider. One such item that should be on the top of the list is to ensure they are prepared to be on their own from a legal perspective.

At Mason, Griffin & Pierson, we offer a program to counsel college students and their parents in such matters.

To find out more, or to obtain information about scheduling a consultation, click here.

“Do I really need a Will?“ The answer for almost all adults in New Jersey, from those just starting out to those well into retirement years, is yes, you should have a Will.

At Mason, Griffin & Pierson, we can assist clients develop a comprehensive estate plan to express their wishes that incorporates, as appropriate, estate and gift tax planning strategies and prepare the documents. Documents include Last Wills and Testaments, Powers of Attorney, and Advance Directives for Health Care.

To find out more about estate planning, click here.

Basic Estate Planning Services for Individuals and Families

Basic estate planning services include the following:

• The preparation of:
  • Last Wills and TestamentsTrusts to Protect Children & Other Beneficiaries
  • Designation of Executor, Trustee & Guardian
  • General Durable Powers of Attorney
  • Medical Powers of Attorney (“Living Wills”)
• Elder Law Matters

Probate and Estate Planning Terms

This glossary of probate and estate planning terms is designed to help navigate the legal language used in estate planning and probate law.

Estate Planning Seminars

The firm’s attorneys present seminars and are available for both in-depth and general programs on a variety of estate planning issues, including the following topics:

• The necessity of having a Will, “Living will” and Power of Attorney
• Utilization of and general operation of trusts
• How to minimize federal and state estate taxes

Sophisticated Estate Planning

• Many advanced tax-saving methods and estate planning procedures are available for federal and state taxable estates. The firm’s attorneys prepare documents to help preserve your wealth for you and your heirs. Sophisticated estate planning techniques include the following:
  • Marital Trusts
  • Trusts for Non-U.S. Citizens
  • Disclaimer Trusts
  • Credit Shelter Trusts
  • Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
  • Qualified Personal Residence Trusts
  • Charitable Trusts
  • Lifetime Gift Planning
  • Utilization of Gift Tax Exclusions
  • Generation-Skipping Tax Planning
  • Family Limited Partnerships
  • Ownership of Assets for Estate Planning Purposes
  • Special Needs Trusts for Disabled Children
  • Estate Litigation
  • Trust Litigation

Estate Administration

In the event of death, The firm’s attorneys can assist you with all aspects of estate administration, including:

• Probate Will
• Prepare Federal Estate Tax Returns
• Prepare State Inheritance Tax Returns
• Assist fiduciaries with:
  • Transfer & Distribute Property
  • Guardianship Proceedings
  • Convey Real Estate
  • Postmortem Tax Planning
  • Prepare Estate & Trust Accountings
  • NJ Ancillary Probate for Non-NJ Resident Decedent

Estate & Trust Litigation

Firm attorneys can assist with estate and trust litigation, including:

• Probate litigation, such as to admit Will to probate or to contest a Will
• Litigation seeking an accounting of an estate or actions by or against fiduciaries
• Litigation to modify or terminate a trust
• Litigation seeking direction from probate court to resolve issues of estate or trust administration

Elder Law Resources

The firm’s estate planning attorneys provide an annotated list of elder law resources to help assist you and your family with elder law issues.