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Estates & Trusts


Attorneys that handle Estates & Trusts are:

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
  • SECURE Act

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.



  • Ed Schmierer Recognized as Outstanding Volunteer by Womanspace



  • Nicholas S. Taylor, Esq. joins Mason, Griffin & Pierson PC as an Associate.

    Nicholas is a member of the firm’s Business & Banking Practice Group and Real Estate Practice Group. Nick concentrates his practice in banking law, business formation, all aspects of business representation, and real estate. He will assist the firm’s Business & Banking Group in representing closely held businesses and local and national banks in business lending transactions as well as representing buyers and sellers of residential and commercial real estate.



  • Ed Schmierer honored with the David McAlphin Humanitarian Award



  • Edwin W. Schmierer, Esq moderates Affordable Housing Panel

    On June 23, 2022, Mason, Griffin & Pierson, PC, Director, Edwin W. Schmierer, Esq., moderated a panel discussion presented by Affordable Housing Professionals of New Jersey (AHPNJ) concerning the status of affordable housing delivery for the Third Round and preparation for the Fourth Round which commences July 1, 2025. Mr. Schmierer is the President of AHPNJ. The panelists included a representative from the Fair Share Housing Center, former Executive Director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, the Chief of Multifamily Program for NJHMFA and a professional planner who has served as a Special Court Master in 40 plus municipalities for the implementation of Third Round Affordable Housing Plans. Mr. Schmierer chairs the firm's Government Practice Group which represents over 30 municipal governing bodies, land use board and affordable housing committees throughout the State of New Jersey.

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