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Estates & Trusts

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.

Basic Estate Planning Services for Individuals and Families

Basic estate planning services include the following:

  • Wills
  • Trusts to Protect Children & Other Beneficiaries
  • Designation of Executor, Trustee & Guardian
  • General Durable Powers of Attorney
  • Codicils
  • Living Wills
  • Medical Powers of Attorney
  • Elder Law Counseling & Elder Law Resources
  • Estate Planning for Same-Gender Couples
  • Digital Asset Planning

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 procedures 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
  • Stretch IRAs

Estate Administration

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

  • Probate Will
  • Prepare Fiduciary Income Tax Returns
  • Prepare Decedent’s Final Income Tax Returns
  • Prepare Federal Estate Tax Returns
  • Prepare State Inheritance Tax Returns
  • Prepare State Estate Tax Returns
  • Transfer & Distribute Property
  • Guardianship Proceedings
  • Convey Real Estate
  • Postmortem Tax Planning
  • Prepare Estate & Trust Accountings
  • NJ Ancillary Probate for Non-NJ Resident Decedent

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.

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters Autumn Culinaire

    The firm is pleased to be a sponsor at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Mercer October 17 fundraiser event at Cobblestone Creek Country Club in Lawrence, New Jersey. The event features dishes from several of the area's finest restaurants, tastings of wine and beer and live music. The evening will honor individuals who volunteer time and commitment making BBBS Mercer a success. For more information go to www.bbbsmercer.org

  • Communities of Light Launch October 22

    Womanspace's Annual Communities of Light Event on December 2nd is a public awareness project and fundraising campaign to benefit victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The launch event is free and open to the public. It includes a press conference and reception and will take place at 5:30 PM on October 22 at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road in Lawrenceville. Edwin Schmierer, Director with Mason, Griffin & Pierson is a member of the Board of Directors of Womanspace and the firm is a sponsor of the event. The event will honor the Police Chiefs and coordinators of Mercer County. More information at www.womanspace.org.

  • Philly Pops Concert October 5

    Mason, Griffin & Pierson is pleased to be a sponsor at the Philly Pops concert to benefit The Foundation of Morris Hall/St. Lawrence, Inc. The Foundation provides funding for skilled nursing, out patient health care, and rehabilitation for residents at Morris Hall and St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center. The concert will be at the Patriots Theater, Trenton War Memorial. For information and tickets go to www.morrishall.org/events.php

  • Girls on the Run

    The firm is a sponsor for the November 24 Girls on the Run Central New Jersey 5K in downtown Somerville, New Jersey. Girls on the Run is a program for girls in grades 3 through 8 which teaches girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. Associate Attorney Nicole Sciotto is member of the Advisory Board of Girls on the Run, Central New Jersey Chapter. For more information, including donations and race registration, please visit www.gotrcnj.org.

  • West Windsor Mayor's Ball

    The firm is a sponsor for the November 2 West Windsor Mayor's Ball. The event takes place at the Boathouse on Mercer Lake in West Windsor and benefits the Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company. For more information go to www.westwindsornj.org/WW-givesback/index.html.

  • Cecil on New Jersey Municipal League Conference Panels

    Trishka Waterbury Cecil, past President of the New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys (NJILGA), is a presenter at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City. Mandatory Certification Class For New Board Members, sponsored by New Jersey Planning Officials is on November 19. Muincipal Law Update 2019, sponsored by New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys, and OPMA/Civility/Administration of Public Meetings, sponsored by New Jersey State League of Municipalities are on November 21. For more information, go to www.njpo.org, www.njilga.org or www.njlm.org.

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