Serving as an agent (or Attorney in Fact) with power of attorney in New Jersey is a decision that comes with great power and responsibility. The agent must act on the principal’s behalf and will be held to the highest standard of loyalty and duty under New Jersey law. For serving, agents are almost always authorized to receive some form of compensation. Exactly how much are agent with power of attorney fees in New Jersey? This is a question both principals and agents frequently ask.
In this relationship, the principal sets the terms. If the document has not been drafted, the principal can state the compensation (such as a specified hourly rate), provide a flexible term (such as “reasonable”), or specify that the agent is to receive no compensation at all. If the power of attorney in question has not been drafted, the above and many more compensation terms are possible with the help of an experienced New Jersey estate planning attorney.
More often then not, people ask this question after the fact. If the power of attorney has been signed, the first place to look is the document. There is almost always a clause stating how the agent is to be compensated. In most cases, the principal provides for flexible compensation, such as “reasonable.” This provides the flexibility in the case the Agent has to do extraordinary work, such as managing all the principal’s affairs while in a coma, all the way to simple actions, such as paying the mortgage while the principal is traveling abroad.
In New Jersey, if the principal has not specifically stated the compensation, the agent is not entitled to a fee without the appropriate Court’s approval. The agent can apply for, and the court may award “reasonable” compensation-but is not required to do so. “Reasonable” is a difficult standard to nail down, as judges’ opinions differ based on county and circumstance. We will provide examples of what reasonable looks like as new opinions are published on our blog.
If you have questions about agent and power of attorney fees in New Jersey or any other estate planning concerns contact our office for a free consultation.
New Jersey Estate Administration Fees
- Overview
- NJ Probate Attorney Fees
- NJ Executor Fees
- NJ Trustee Fees
- NJ Agent & Power of Attorney Fees
- NJ Guardianship Fees
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Peter Klenk is the founding member of Klenk Law, a seven attorney boutique estate planning law firm. We serve clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota and Florida. Peter Klenk received his Masters in Taxation LL.M. from NYU Law School and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. He served his country in the Navy JAGC during Desert Storm. Easy to talk to, feel free to call Peter for an appointment. We will make the process as easy as possible!
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Peter was excellent. He explained everything very clearly and is super friendly. My wife and I originally tried using a lawyer through group legal coverage, but unfortunately the old adage - "you get what you pay for" - applied to the other lawyer, and we decided to go with a real professional.
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D.P.
Like another reviewer, I contacted Peter through his website using the free consultation link, for a question regarding PA inheritance taxes. The question was quite technical and difficult to explain, and the answer was nowhere to be found on the web. Peter grasped precisely what I was asking, and provided a clear, helpful response (with a touch of humor) the very next day.
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Ian Marchant
Mr. Klenk, quickly understood the circumstances presented and provided clear and concise advice. This advice provided me with the information I required to progress the case to my advantage.
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Peter is excellent. I had a very complicated situation with my parents' estate planning and potential Medicaid needs. Peter was very knowledgeable in estate planning matters, able to define the best solution for the situation. Additionally, he was congenial and able to communicate effectively to my senior citizen parents the benefits of estate planning. He earned my trust, and more importantly, my parents' trust in a 45 mins consultation period. Highly recommend Peter. He is very easy to work with.
Chantee C.
Peter recently gave a presentation about Wills & Trusts at my employer, and it was fantastic! He was extremely knowledgeable and provided valuable information to the group. People were very engaged and asked several questions, all of which Peter thoroughly answered. Personally, my husband and I have selected Peter to help us with our estate planning, and he has been very helpful in providing us with all of the information we need to provide a secure future for our family. Thank you, Peter!
Dylan Small
Peter provided outstanding advice and preparation of a will and trusts.
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Peter explained things in a way that was easy to understand. Everything was done in the time frame he said it. Could not have been better!
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Peter and his staff handled all of our needs in a very professional and timely matter.
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Peter Klenk made a complex subject understandable and allowed us to move forward with our estate planning. He was patient with our questions and creative in the solutions he proposed.
Brian M.
Peter explained a complex subject very clearly, helped us to decide the best approach to managing our estate and then made it very easy for us to execute the required documents. He will be a valuable resource for years to come and clearly has a great understanding of estate law that will lead to innovative solutions for us. I would unhesitatingly recommend him for estate planning.
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Fantastic customer service. Very personable and most importantly they provide great explanations of what is required based on your individual needs. Highly recommend Klenk Law for anyone that needs to create a will and estate documents.
Joe Peters
Always professional and very responsive. Everyone on the staff that I have worked with. I look forward to continuing our relationship.
Michael Patete
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MJG
Affable...yet surprisingly cerebral estate planning atty. High marks all the way around.
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