Estate Lawyers In NJ | Attorneys For Wills, Trusts & Estates
Since 1978, people in South Jersey have trusted the estate attorneys at Hoffman DiMuzio with their needs. Our attorneys are experienced estate and probate lawyers that work closely with each of our clients to help them handle life changes. With over 65 attorneys and staff, we are the largest full service law firm in South Jersey. We have the resources of a large law firm but offer the client-centered personal approach of a small firm. With us, you will have one law firm for life. Our passionate, powerful, and proven attorneys can help you with all of life’s stages.
New Jersey Estate Lawyers
Hoffman DiMuzio helps people create estate plans that address their needs and those of their families. While many people put off estate planning, all adults can benefit from creating an estate plan. Even young adults should consider their estates.
Estate planning should be a lifelong consideration. Any time your life changes, your plan should be reviewed and updated. Our team of estate lawyers work from five offices spread throughout South Jersey. When you need to meet with us, your attorney can meet with you in the office that is closest to you. How convenient!
Our Estate Lawyer Services
We provide comprehensive estate services, including the following:
- Estate planning
- Wills preparation
- Creation of trusts
- Estate and probate administration
- Durable financial powers of attorney
- Durable healthcare powers of attorney
- Guardianship services
With us, our focus is always on your wellbeing and not our bottom line. We want to help people in all of life’s stages to be prepared for whatever life might bring. Our clients trust us to give practical and solid legal advice to help them through all situations. You can be assured that your lawyer will carefully listen to your family and estate concerns and help you determine the best ways to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Estate Planning Lawyers
All adults over the age of 18 can benefit from estate planning. When teens head off to college, they should have basic estate plans in place to provide their parents access to medical and financial information. Estate plans should change and grow with each new life stage. This process can help to ensure that your plan accurately reflects your needs and those of your family.
As your estate grows, it is important to plan to ensure that the right people will receive your assets after you pass away. If you die without a will or trust, the state of New Jersey will control how your property will be distributed. This means that your property might be passed in a way that does not reflect your wishes.
You should create an estate plan and review it when any major change in your life occurs, including the following:
- Leaving for college
- Getting married
- Having or adopting a child
- Buying a home
- Getting divorced
- Getting remarried
- Having a blended family
- Losing a loved one
- Nearing retirement
- Entering your golden years
By reviewing your estate plan and updating it when changes occur, we can help you be prepared for all of life’s changes. Updating your estate plan when major changes happen in your life helps to ensure that it still reflects your needs and will not cause any unintended consequences.
Power Of Attorney Lawyer
Well-drafted powers of attorney are as important to have as a will. A power of attorney helps you to plan ahead in case you are become disabled and are no longer able to make decisions for yourself.
A durable financial power of attorney allows you to appoint a trusted person to serve as your agent. This person will be given the power to make financial decisions for you if you become incapacitated or are otherwise unavailable. You can choose how many powers to give your agent. Some examples of the types of power that you might give your agent in a financial power of attorney include the following:
- Paying your bills
- Accessing your bank account
- Keeping your business operating
- Selling or buying property on your behalf
A second type of power of attorney is a durable health care power of attorney. You can draft a health care POA to make it only effective if you are incapacitated. The person you name as your agent can then step in and make important decisions about your medical care.
Without having POAs, the court will instead step in and appoint someone to serve as your guardian if you are incapacitated. The process involved goes through the probate court and is long and expensive. The court will not always appoint a close loved one to serve as your guardian. Drafting POAs can help you designate one or more people you trust to handle your affairs instead of leaving it up to the court.
Wills And Trusts Attorney
Your will or trust is the central document of your estate plan. Through a will, you can ensure that the people or charities you want to receive your assets will get them after your death. Writing a will helps you to ensure that your loved ones will be taken care of after you pass away. You can also use a will to make gifts to charities whose missions are important to you.
Trust planning can help you to accomplish many different goals. If you have a large estate, you might be able to minimize estate taxes. Assets placed in trusts also pass to your beneficiaries outside of probate. This can allow your loved ones to receive your assets much faster while maintaining your family’s privacy.
Estate Administration
After your loved one passes away, his or her estate will need to be administered. Estate and probate administration can be complex processes for most people. Our estate attorneys help executors, trustees, administrators, and beneficiaries with the numerous tasks involved with administration. We can help you through this sensitive time and help you perform all of the tasks involved with handling your loved one’s estate.
Guardianship
If your loved one is incapacitated by an illness or injury and does not have a POA, you will need to petition the court to appoint a guardian. A guardian must act in a ward’s best interests at all times. Guardians make key decisions about a ward’s finances and medical care. If your loved one is disabled and unable to make decisions, our compassionate attorneys can help you through the process to have a guardian appointed for him or her.
Estate Lawyers Near Me
Hoffman DiMuzio has five offices across South Jersey. This helps us to meet you in the office that is most convenient for you. We are dedicated to our clients and want to help you through all of life’s challenges. Call, chat, or email us to schedule your consultation. We offer in-person consultations, telephone consultations, and Skype consultations, so you can choose the method that is most convenient for you.