Probate Lawyer & Will Attorney in NJ

Transfer of an estate to an individual’s heirs after his death may be an orderly or thoroughly disorganized process. It depends on a four-letter word — WILL. Every person, eighteen (18) years of age or over should make one. This important document is a legal declaration of the way an individual wants his property distributed.

Whether the estate is large or small, it is desirable to transfer what you own with a properly executed will — whether you are a man or woman, married or single. Those without wills may leave their survivors in financial insecurity or downright frustration. It is to the advantage of both the individual and his family or his close friends that he executes a will.

Contrary to general opinion, frequently the smaller amounts involved, the greater trouble when there is no will. Squabbles over a few thousand dollars an are more bitter than fights over many thousands.

Making a will is an important step in your financial management program. To save your heirs time and money, plan now for the orderly transfer of your property.

In this way, the cost of a bond and possible disagreement among those who are to receive your property may be avoided. You decide to whom, when, and in what amounts your assets should go. You select your executor or personal representative, the one who shall be responsible for the disposition of the estate. You may avoid the forced sale of your property or costly and tedious applications to courts for the right to sell it. You have greater assurance that your plans will be carried out as you desire.

One way to guarantee trouble to a family is not to make a will. Court records bulge with tragic tales of families torn apart and caused immeasurable pain and financial expense because the income producer did not do so.

Without a will, your estate must be distributed according to the intestate laws, the provisions of which are general and inflexible. The law will say show shall administer your estate, among whom, and how it shall be divided. By losing the privilege of naming your executor or personal representative, you may make a costly mistake. Your property may not be distributed as you wish, and thus cause hardship for those you want to safeguard most. Without a will you lose the privilege of naming a guardian for your minor children. This is vital, particularly if your spouse should not survive you. If you leave no immediate family, failure to leave a will may result in your property going to persons in whom you have no particular interest.

Wills are not do-it-yourself projects. Secure the services of an attorney. Although many prepared without legal aid have been successfully executed, the risk is too great. A minor detail may invalidate your good intentions.

A document that will stand up in court, if necessary, and be tailor-made to meet the needs of your family, must first be thought out carefully by you, and then skillfully prepared by a lawyer who specializes in will drafting and estate planning. He can guide you to the best decisions — but only after obtaining all the facts that you alone can give. Thus, you can be sure that your will is properly phrased, witnessed, and has all the technicalities observed. It is penny-wise and pounds- foolish not to pay a lawyer’s fee for this service. The charge will depend on the size and character of the estate and the work involved.

Here are some points to know when making a will:

• You don’t need to make an itemized statement of your assets, nor do you need to state the disposition of your property item by item.
• You can change it at any time you wish, as your assets, beneficiaries or desires change.
• Your will is not recorded before death; no one need know of it if that is your wish.
• The existence of the will does not affect your ability to sell or dispose of property. You may continue as though you had not written the document.
• While the law permits a beneficiary to witness a will, it is recommended that a beneficiary witness is used only when a disinterested party is not available, in order to avoid future challenges as to conflict.

Start by making a list of everything you own and all you owe — a statement that will show exactly where you stand financially. Decide to whom you will lave your real and personal property. Do it systematically. Be certain you have stated just what your wishes are by making a list of the persons involved, their relationship to you, your objectives, when their request is to be given, and how it is to be provided — through a trust fund, life insurance trust, etc., and the source of the funds, whether from the general estate or proceeds of insurance policies. Take this list to the lawyer who is counseling with you.

Select an executor, executrix or personal representative to administer the will. This may be the beneficiary who will inherit the bulk of your estate, a member of the family, your legal or financial advisor, a trusted friend or business associate. You should name a contingent executor or personal representative to act in case your first selection dies before you, or is unable to serve.

A bank can act as executor, personal representative, trustee under a trust, or guardian of either a minor or an incompetent person. A bank is experienced and familiar with accounting and management details. It is financially responsible and a continuing institution — an individual may die, but a bank has continued life.

In selecting your executor or personal representative and trustee, the choice should be made with great care. The decision should be businesslike, not sentimental. While sentiment and friendship cause some people to name members of the family or close friends, remember that your executor or personal representative has the important responsibility of settling your estate and seeing that the wishes expressed are faithfully carried out.

Here are a few of things an executor or personal representative must do, in addition to seeing that the will is offered for probate:

• Qualify as executor, (also known as Personal Representative), obtain a certificate of authority, and if necessary, execute a bond.
• Locate and take possession of all property, discover and assert all rights and line up claims owned by the estate.
• Prepare and file an inventory of all property and interest of any kind belonging to the estate, listing the appraised value.
• Review all assets, liquidating those of doubtful character.
• Advertise for claims and pay them in the order cited by law.
• Collect monies due to the estate.
• Figure and pay taxes.
• Pay legacies under the will.
• Distribute the estate.
• Make final accounting to the court.

It is important that you name a guardian if you have minor children. When you consult the attorney, ask for a rough draft of your will and study it carefully before signing the final copy.

A will must be written, signed by the testator (maker) and witnesses. The original copy is the legal document and must be signed. You may wish to have unsigned carbon copies available for your convenience.

In New Jersey a will, to be legal, must have at least two witnesses. The testator and the witnesses are required to be present at the signing, and each must see the others sign. The witnesses do not have to read it or know what it contains. However, they must be told by the testator that it is his or her will and asked to sign as witnesses.

The witnesses should be likely to outlive the testator and remain the community.

While the law permits a beneficiary to witness a will, it is recommended that a beneficiary witness is used only when a disinterested party is not available, in order to avoid future challenges as to conflict.

If the witnesses and the testator execute an affidavit before a Notary Public, it will not be necessary for either of the witnesses to appear in Surrogate Court at the time of Probate. Your attorney will prepare an Affidavit for signatures.

A well-drawn will contains a common disaster clause to establish contingent beneficiaries if both husband and wife die within a stated period of time. Without such a clause, if both husband and wife die with no way to determine who died first, their individual property is disposed of as if they had died a widow and widower. Property owned jointly is divided proportionately among the heirs of the joint owners; the husband’s heirs receive one-half, the wife’s heirs one-half.

Couples of modest means frequently name each other as sole beneficiary, and each has an independent will. Such an arrangement avoids many complications for the survivor when there are minor children.

Keep your will in a safe place, but let someone know where it can be found. If kept in a safe deposit box, it usually can be removed by the executor in the presence of an employee of the bank. This may be done before the inventory of the contents is made by the District Supervisor of the Transfer Inheritance Tax Bureau.

Husband and wife should have their own wills. They each should know where both are kept. Above all, do not keep your will in the back of your desk or in another place where it may be lost or thrown away.

Periodically review your will to keep it up to date. Keeping it current is just as important as making one in the first place. Changes in your life such as marriage, the birth of child, death, crippling accident, change of witnesses, purchase or sale of property, a change in your financial status — or a change in the estate law may make important revisions or a new will advisable.

A will drawn in another state can be valid; however, revisions in relation to New Jersey laws may be prudent. You are free to change it any time but do it correctly.

The safe way to change a will is to have a new one drawn; however, a codicil may be effective.

A codicil is a separate document used to make minor changes. It must be signed with the same formality as the will itself. It is not necessary to have the same witnesses on the codicil and the original will; however, both sets of witnesses must prove the will.

Do not try to change your will by drawing lines through items, erasing, writing over or adding notations. This may destroy it as a legal document.

When no will exists, the statutes of New Jersey provide for the distribution of property to heirs, that is, by intestate succession.

If you die without leaving a Will and are a resident of New Jersey, the State law provides the manner for distributing your property. Your net estate remaining after deduction of debts, taxes, family exemptions, etc., would be distributed under the Statutes governing Decedent’s Estates and, in the case of most common occurrence, the heirs who would receive such property are as follows:

Property owned jointly be husband and wife is automatically owned by the survivor. The following outlines the distribution of separately owned property.

If You Die Leaving a Wife or Husband and Child or Children (also of Survivor) Or their Descendants

• Wife or Husband receives $50,000 plus one-half of the balance
• Child or Children receive one-half of balance divided equally
• Grandchildren take their deceased parent’s share unless all children are deceased, then all grandchildren share equally.
• Wife or Husband and Child or Children (one or more not Child of Survivor) or their Descendants
• Wife or Husband receives one-half
• Child receives one-half or Children receive one-half divided equally
• Grandchildren take their deceased parent’s share unless all children be deceased, then all grandchildren share equally.

If You Die Leaving a Wife or Husband but No Children or Their Descendants and

(a) If your Mother or Father survives
Wife or Husband receives $50,000 plus one-half of the balance
Mother and Father, or survivor, receives other one-half of the balance

(b) If no Parent survives
Wife or Husband receives all.

If You Die Leaving a Child or Children but No Wife or Husband

• Child or Children receive all divided equally
• Grandchildren take their deceased parent’s share unless all children be deceased, then all grandchildren share equally.

If You Die Leaving No Wife or Husband and No Children or their Descendants and

(a) If your Mother or Father survives
Mother and Father, or survivor, receives all

(b) If No Parent survives
Brothers and Sisters receive all divided equally

Nieces and Nephews take their deceased parent’s share unless all brothers and sisters be deceased, then all Nieces and Nephews share equally.

More Remote Cases (under this classification) are Not Covered Here

The State of New Jersey takes your property if you leave no wife or husband; child or its descendants; parent; brother or sister of their descendants; grandparent; or uncle or aunt or their children; or their grandchildren.

NOTE: Any person who fails to survive the decedent by 120 hours is deemed to have predeceased the decedent for purposes in intestate succession.

When there is no will, an administrator, administratrix or personal representative is appointed by the court. Any close relative may be appointed.

For an individual or a bank to be appointed the administrator or personal representative, all other heirs must renounce their right. A surety bond must be furnished by paying a premium to a surety company for signing his or her bond. In the case of the spouse, the need for a surety bond is waived if the surviving spouse is the sole inheritor of the estate not exceeding $50,000.00. If the estate is over $50,000.00 a bond must be provided for the amount over $50,000.00.

The county surrogate grants letters of administration showing the authority to act.

A guardian may be appointed by the court for minor children. In order to sell or dispose of minors’ interest in a parent’s land, a guardian must be appointed by the Probate Court to sign the deed for them. The expense of having the guardian appointed, bond for the guardian, appraisals, court costs and attorney’s frees are charged to the minor.

The guardian applies to the court for permission and approval to sell land or to spend the children’s money for their support or education. The guardian must account for income and disbursements — by court action if necessary.

HAVE YOU MADE A WILL, OR DO YOU ACCEPT THE PROVISIONS MADE BY THE STATE FOR DISPOSAL OF YOUR PROPERTY? A WILL IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR FINANCIAL PROGRAM AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

Upon the death of the testator or testatrix, the will is probated. This is the legal process which establishes the genuineness of the will. It is done by the surrogate in the county where the testator or testatrix resides at the time of death.

The executor, executrix or personal representative is appointed by going to the Surrogate Court with the will, a death certificate, and one of the witnesses.

If the “attestation” clause (where the witnesses sign) is properly worded, only one of the witnesses need be present when a will is probated. If the attestation clause is not correct, both witnesses must be present. If both witnesses are dead, and there is one attestation clause, the will can be probated by proving their signatures. If they have moved away, the surrogate can appoint a commissioner where the witnesses reside to take their testimony.

If an Affidavit of Testator and witnesses is acknowledged by a Notary Public, the witnesses need not appear at the time of probate.

Within 60 days after the date of the probate of the will, the executor/trix must mail to all beneficiaries under the will; the spouse, heirs, and next of kin to the deceased, a notice in writing that the will has been probated, the place and date of probate, the name and address of the executor/trix, and a statement that a copy of the will shall be furnished upon request. Proof of mailing shall be filed with the Surrogate within 10 days of the mailing date.

If by terms of the will, property is devised to a charity, notice and a copy of the will shall be mailed to the Attorney General.

When a NOTICE TO CREDITORS is published, the executor/trix, administrator/trix shall mail a copy of the NOTICE TO CREDITORS to each creditor of the estate of which the personal representative knows or which can be ascertained by reasonable inquiry, by ordinary mail to the creditor’s last known address.

If there is a question of the ability of your beneficiaries to manage money or if you are in a high tax bracket, ask your lawyer about setting up a trust. A trust may be created by an agreement or by your will giving property to a third person – trustee – to hold and administer for the benefit of the persons named in the trust. A trust may reduce estate, legal, and administrative expenses.. The trustee is entitled to a fee for such service.

Another way to transfer property is through joint ownership. Real estate owned by both husband and wife automatically becomes the sole property of the survivor.

If two or more persons other than husband and wife own real estate together, each owns an undivided share as tenant in common, unless the deed states they are to own “as joint tenants and not as tenants in common.” With exceptions, real estate held in joint ownership goes to the survivor or survivors when one of the joint owners dies. An interest in real estate owned by tenants in common passes to the heirs of the deceased.

Personal property may be owned jointly with right of survivorship, the survivor becoming the sole owner. Checking accounts, savings accounts or stocks and bonds may be held in joint ownership with right of survivorship, or as tenants in common.

A life insurance policy is a contract between the policyholder and the company. The proceeds are paid according to the terms of each contract.

Life insurance should be payable specifically to a designated beneficiary. A contingent beneficiary or beneficiaries as well as a primary beneficiary should be named in each policy. A contingent beneficiary is important in case of simultaneous death of both the policyholder and the beneficiary, or if the beneficiary dies first. Without a contingent beneficiary, life insurance money passes to the estate and is subject to New Jersey inheritance tax and the executor’s, administrator’s or personal representative’s commission.

Although insurance proceeds may be subject to Federal Estate Tax, a named beneficiary will receive the insurance free from the New Jersey Inheritance Tax or other charges against the estate.

The Social Security Act provides for survivor’s benefits to the family and other dependents of covered persons. Benefits may include monthly payments and a lump-sum death payment. Benefits are not paid automatically. Upon the death of a person who has worked under social security, a member of the family must file application for benefits with the local social security office.

Write or visit your nearest Veteran’s Administration Office if the deceased, man or woman, was a veteran of World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict or the Vietnam War, for information regarding benefits paid to a widow or children.

Administrator, Administratrix (also known as Personal Representative) –
Person or institution appointed by the court to manage and distribute the estate of a person who dies without a will.
Beneficiary — Person named to receive property or benefits.
Codicil — An addition or supplement made to change or add provisions to a will.
Contingent beneficiary — Receiver of property or benefits if first-named beneficiary dies
before receiving all benefits.
Contract — Legally enforceable agreement.
Decedent — A deceased person.
Devise — To give real or Personal Property.
Estate — Everything a person owns, all real and personal property owned.
Executor, Executrix (also known as Personal Representative) — A person or
institution named in the will to carry out the provisions and directions of the will.
Intestate — A person who dies without making a valid will.
Legatee — Person who receives personal property under a will.
Levied — To collect by assessment.
Lien — A charge upon property, real or personal, for the satisfaction of a debt.
Personal property — Intangible property, such as stocks, bonds, or bank accounts; and tangible property such as furniture, automobile, jewelry.
Probate — Official proof of the genuineness of a will.
Real property — Land and buildings.
Surrogate — A judicial officer who has jurisdiction over the probate of wills in the absence of a contest and acts as the Clerk of the Probate Court in the settlement of estates, guardianships, and trusts.
Tenants in common — Two or more persons owning individual interests in property.
Testator, Testatrix — The person who makes a will.
Trust — Property owned and managed by one person for the benefit of another.
Trustee — Person or institution holding property in trust.
Waiver — A legal instrument relinquishing a right or lien.
Will — A legal declaration of the manner in which a person wishes his estate divided after death.
Witness — Person who observes the signing of a will and also attests to the signatures. Strong track record of successful result.