Last Will and Testament
This document tells your Executor how to dispose of your property after your death. In a Will, you can also name a Guardian for your minor children, a Trustee to manage any trust created under your Will, including trusts for minor children, and you can specify burial plans. Gina is one of the more experienced lawyers for a last will and testament in New Jersey. While a will may be easy to draw up on your own, you may not know some of the legal ins and outs that Gina does that will protect your wishes legally in the event of your death.
If you have a will that hasn't been updated in the last decade or more, bring it in for an evaluation and update by our experienced estate attorneys. The more current your last will and testament is, the less likely it is to be challenged after your death.
Wills are not just for the rich. Anyone with a home or business should strongly consider investing in a will to protect both your business and your loved ones.
Living Will
Most people have specific wishes regarding when medical treatment should be withheld. Unfortunately, an accident or terminal illness can render you unconscious and unable to inform your doctors of your wishes. A Living Will (also called an Advanced Health Care Directive) is a document written while you are healthy and competent. It tells your doctor how you wish to be treated in the event of a fatal or debilitating illness or condition that renders you unconscious or incompetent. A Living Will takes the pressure and agony of these decisions out of the hands of your loved ones. Talk to Gina about your wishes to find out if a living will is right for you; as one of the more informed estate planning attorneys in New Jersey, she'll be able to give you an ironclad document that will address all of your needs. She is also one of the more recognized lawyers in the area for wills and trusts.
You should be considering a Living Will if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with any terminal illness. A Living Will is a good idea at any time but the increased risk that such an illness can bring makes a Living Will all that more necessary. Having a Living Will in hand will give you and your family piece of mind in the event of any medical emergencies that leave you incapacitated.
Durable Power of Attorney
From time to time, you may find the need to have someone else sign a document, an instrument or a check on your behalf in accordance with your wishes. Perhaps you cannot attend a closing. Perhaps you are out of town when a bill comes due. A durable power of attorney is an instrument that gives someone else the power to carry out your wishes. A “durable” power of attorney is one that does not expire if you are disabled or incompetent.
Durable powers of attorney can be dispensed to close friends or family members so that your affairs can be managed in your absence. Our firm will tell you exactly what the holders of your power of attorney will need in addition to the document itself in order to properly conduct your affairs while you are in absentia.