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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.

  • Dragan Named Director with MG&P

    Sharon A. Dragan has been named Director and Shareholder with Mason, Griffin & Pierson. Sharon received a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law where she served as Bureau Editor for the Seton Hall Legislative Bureau and is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She practices in the areas of local government law, zoning and land use law, real estate law, and estate law. Sharon is Attorney for the Township of Readington, Attorney for Alexandria Township, Attorney for Delaware Township and Attorney for Special Open Space Counsel of West Amwell Township. In her continued service to the legal profession, Sharon served on the District XIII Ethics Committee for several years, the committee that acts as the investigative and prosecutorial arm of the Supreme Court of New Jersey in discharging the Court's constitutional responsibility to supervise and discipline New Jersey attorneys. Sharon is a Trustee of the New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys, a professional organization with the purpose of promoting education and professionalism among local government attorneys. She is a member of the Hunterdon County, New Jersey State and Pennsylvania State Bar Associations.

    MG&P Supports Local Youth Basketball

    Mason, Griffin & Pierson continues its support of youth basketball programs in the community. For more information on the Dillon Youth Basketball League go to the Princeton Recreation Department at www.leaguelineup.com

    For information on the Montgomery Basketball Association go to www.montgomerybasketball.com

  • New Jersey Paid Sick Leave Act is Now in Effect

    In May of this year, New Jersey joined the growing number of states to enact paid sick leave laws. The New Jersey Paid Sick Leave Act is currently in effect and below you will find certain information that is important for all New Jersey employers to understand.

    Who Does it Affect?
    The Act applies to New Jersey employers of all sizes, including businesses that are based elsewhere but have employees located in New Jersey. While several New Jersey municipalities already had paid sick leave ordinances, this new state law preempts them, meaning they no longer apply and employers throughout the state are now subject to one consistent set of requirements.

    The Act does not apply to a few narrow categories of employees: (1) construction industry employees working under collective bargaining agreements; (2) per diem health care employees; or (3) public employees who are already provided with sick leave with full pay pursuant to any other state law, rule, or regulation.
    Read More

    Montgomery Township Education Foundation

    Mason, Griffin & Pierson is pleased to sponsor Montgomery Township Education Foundation. The Foundation's fundraiser takes place on the evening of February 23 at Cherry Valley Country Club in Skillman, New Jersey. The Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization set up to support strategic programs for the benefit of the Montgomery Township public school children.

    For more information go to one.bidpal.net/mtefcomedynight

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