New Jersey Trust and Estate Law

Even for attorneys with no interest in practicing trusts and estates law, knowing the basics of this area adds tremendous value to their lives, their clients’ lives, and their friends and family. Unfortunately, this area of law will impact everyone in one way or another, whether as an attorney or as an individual.

Attendees will learn how to differentiate between wills and trusts in New Jersey and why clients may want or have them. This course will explore probate (and why everyone seems to hate it), the tax implications (and what to expect in terms of changes in the next few years) of passing away in New Jersey, and other documents and considerations that make up an estate plan (guardianship selections, Powers of Attorneys, medical proxies and decisions). Attorneys will learn how a well-drafted plan protects clients’ families (divorce protection, creditor protection) and ensures their legacy. There will also be a brief introduction to advanced planning (Medicaid trusts and irrevocable trusts generally).

Ms. Kinealy will introduce attendees to the core concepts and resources to help them understand more complex areas in greater detail. This course is ideal for attorneys interested in adding estate planning to their practice, those with adjacent practices that would benefit from more working knowledge, or those who would like to be prepared for calls from friends, family, or past clients who need some guidance.

Attorneys at any level in any field admitted to the Bar of New Jersey are encouraged to attend.

Learning Objectives:

• Review key concepts that inform what happens to assets when one dies
• Apply planning techniques (like wills and trusts) to avoid some of the stress and hardship for family members when people die
• Review the central taxes that can apply at death or as a result of transferring ownership of assets at death.
• Evaluate the types of needs clients may have for this type of planning
• Speak knowledgeably about the factors that may lead the client to seek specialized counsel