Your Authority When Managing Estate Property Serving as an executor often means making difficult estate administration decisions with no instructions attached. In particular, what happens to someone's house after they pass away? Siblings do not always agree. Some want to sell right away. Others want to wait, or keep the home in the family entirely.…
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What Is Trust Decanting and When Can It Help in New Jersey?
Understanding Your Options For An Outdated Irrevocable Trust A trust that made sense years ago can start working against a family years later. Family circumstances evolve. Tax rules change. A trustee named long ago may no longer be the right fit. Most people assume nothing can fix an old irrevocable trust. That assumption is often…
Read More »Can DCPP Require a Parent to Undergo a Psychological Evaluation?
Understanding The Difference Between A Request And A Court Order A psychological evaluation is a common part of many Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) cases. It is a professional assessment, usually conducted by a psychologist, that can examine a parent's psychological functioning, parenting abilities, and other issues relevant to the child's safety and…
Read More »DCPP Reunification When a Parent Is Incarcerated in New Jersey
Understanding Your Parental Rights While In Prison Being incarcerated is difficult enough for many parents. Learning that a child has been placed in DCPP custody while a parent is incarcerated can add another layer of stress. Often, it is the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) that handles these situations. Many parents in this…
Read More »How Does Gray Divorce Affect Your Social Security Benefits?
Our New Jersey Divorce Attorneys Explain Financial Considerations For Divorcing Later In Life A divorce later in life often comes with financial questions a younger couple rarely faces. This kind of split has a name. Gray divorce generally refers to divorce among adults aged 50 or older, often after a long marriage. Retirement income, including…
Read More »Who Pays the Mortgage While a Divorce Is Pending in New Jersey?
Our New Jersey Divorce Attorneys Explain Mortgage Responsibility A divorce does not pause the obligations tied to a marital home. The mortgage lender continues to expect to be paid on time, regardless of how contentious the divorce proceeding has become. Many spouses assume this question will resolve itself once the case concludes. That assumption can…
Read More »No Will, No Heirs: What Happens to Your Estate in New York?
New York Estate Planning Attorneys Explain Intestacy And Escheat Many people assume that estate planning is only necessary for those with significant wealth or a spouse and children to inherit their property. That is not the case. Estate planning is ultimately about deciding who should make decisions for you and who should receive your property,…
Read More »How Digital Assets Are Handled in a New York Estate Plan
New York Estate Planning Attorneys Explain The Rules A generation ago, an estate plan addressed a house, a bank account, and perhaps a life insurance policy. Today, a person's most significant property often lives entirely online. Photographs, cryptocurrency, email archives, and social media accounts now sit alongside real estate and retirement funds. Together they form…
Read More »What Happens If a Parent Misses Court During a DCPP Case?
New Jersey DCPP Attorneys Explain the Consequences and Risks A Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) case moves forward whether or not a parent shows up in court. That surprises many parents who assume a missed hearing simply gets rescheduled without consequence. In reality, New Jersey courts can proceed with serious decisions about custody,…
Read More »What Should You Bring to Your First Meeting With a DCPP Attorney?
Our New Jersey DCPP Attorneys Explain How To Prepare A call or a knock at the door from a Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) caseworker can leave a parent feeling caught completely off guard. Scheduling that first meeting with an attorney often happens quickly, sometimes within days of learning about an investigation. Being…
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