Blog & Resources

Our “Ask a Question” mailbag addresses LGBT Estate Planning for Married Couples after President Trump’s election.

My wife and I are a same-sex married couple. We married in New Jersey and now live in Pennsylvania. Trump’s election makes us nervous, we are afraid that he may strip away some of our married couple rights. What estate planning documents should we sign to make sure that we have the right to make medical decisions for each other should one of us get sick?”

Our “Ask a Question” mailbag addresses what happens when a sibling dies without a Will in New Jersey.

“My sister died in New Jersey without a will. Our parents are dead, and she never married or had children. Our dad had a daughter out of wedlock when he was very young. It was something that the family didn’t speak of, and we only saw her once in our lives. If a sibling dies without a Will in New Jersey, does a half-sibling receive a share?”

Our “Ask a Question” mailbag addresses the question, how much life insurance should I have?

“I recently had a baby, and it is time to buy some life insurance. But, I feel like I am being sold rather than advised. How much life insurance should I have? Lastly, is there a general rule about how much life insurance I should have as part of my estate plan?”

From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “After being diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s, I have been thinking about forming a Revocable Trust. Who pays the income tax on a Revocable Trust?”

A Revocable Living Trust can be a reliable tool in helping you manage your assets while suffering from Alzheimer’s. But, you should plan carefully and implement checks and balances.

From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “I have a contract to purchase my neighbor’s land. Before I could complete the process, he died. Now the family refuses to open the estate and sign the deed over to me. Is there a method for enforcing a land contract against a deceased owner?

New Jersey Democrats and Republicans arrived at a deal this last week. Though not everyone is happy, making deals is what gets legislation done and an increase is such deals would be appreciated.

From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: Can I leave my watch collection to my son in Trust? “Over the years I have put together an extensive watch collection. My wife and I recently had a son, and I wish to leave him the collection. Can I leave him the collection in Trust? Can a Trust protect an inheritance?”

From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “Can I form a Special Needs Trust during my lifetime? I would like to put some money aside for my Special Needs son now. But I don’t want to disqualify him from his Medicaid.”

From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “At my son’s death, can I decide who receives any remaining money in the Special Needs Trust? I want to set up a Special Needs Trust for my son in my Will. But, when he dies, can my daughter receive what money remains?”

From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “My mother died in Montgomery County, PA, and set up a trust for me in her will. The Trust pays out now that I am 40. I recently found out the trustee failed to pay the Trust’s income taxes for ten years. How do I prove that he committed a breach of fiduciary duty? Can I make him pay the interest and penalty?”