Three clear paths. One goal: a plan that actually works.

NJ Estate Planning Packages

Choose the plan that fits your life today—then customize with a la carte options.

Choose between 3 Tailored Solutions or Customize your own

Transparent, fixed fees once your design is set. Strategy first, funding included where it matters, and plain‑English guidance at every step.

At‑a‑Glance Comparison

  • Family Essentials Plan (Will‑based): Foundations for clarity and control. Best for simpler estates or first‑time planners.

  • Trust Plan (RLT + Funding): Privacy and probate‑avoidance when properly funded. Best for homeowners, blended families, multi‑state property.

  • Advanced Plan (Marital/Tax Architecture): Control across marriages and generations, with tax‑aware design on a trust foundation. Best for HNW/complex estates.

Unsure where to start? No problem! We’ll show you a Will‑only vs. Trust‑based plan side by side (along with others) during your planning meeting. 

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1) Foundations Plan (Will-based)

Best for: Simpler estates; renters who do not own property; and cost-conscious households who don't mind going through the probate process.

What’s included:

  • Will (or pour‑over Will if you later add a trust)

  • Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) — lets a trusted person handle finances/legal tasks if you’re ill or traveling

  • Health Care Proxy/Advance Directive (AD) and HIPAA Authorization — medical decisions and access

  • Children's Safety Plan (optional) — temporary/standby guardians, caregiver cards, and first‑48‑hours letters

  • Beneficiary & title audit — we align key accounts with your plan

Outcome: The right people in charge; clear inheritance instructions; fewer surprises during a hard time.

Timeline: Typically 3–4 weeks from consult to signing.

NJ note: A Will‑based plan typically goes through probate (public court process). We’ll explain local timelines, bond issues, and why most families choose our Trust plan to keep things private and faster. For these reasons, the Family Essentials Plan is the least popular option.LEARN MORE

2) Trust Plan (Revocable Living Trust “RLT” + Funding)

Best for: Families prioritizing privacy and speed; homeowners (especially with out‑of‑state or shore property); blended families; anyone wanting smoother incapacity planning.

What’s included:

  • Revocable Living Trust (RLT) + pour‑over Will (catches anything left outside the trust)

  • Incapacity suite: DPOA + AD + HIPAA

  • Funding Plan + hands‑on funding help: deeds/titles/beneficiary changes coordinated with banks, brokerages, insurers

  • Legacy Story Recording (LSR) included — your values and messages, recorded and stored securely, released on your terms

  • Secure Client Vault for organized digital copies

Outcome: A plan that avoids most probate when properly funded, keeps details private, and makes transitions faster and clearer.

Timeline: 3–5 weeks to design/draft/sign + 4–8 weeks for most funding items (bank/county dependent).

NJ note: We prepare and record Bargain & Sale deeds (common in NJ), coordinate county recording, and align titling (TBE/JTWROS/TIC) with your plan

Critical Consideration: An RLT is about control and privacy (not lawsuit or Medicaid protection). For asset protection or Medicaid goals, see the Advanced Plan and A‑la‑Carte menu below.

EXPLORE TRUST PLAN

3) Advanced Plan (Marital/Tax Architecture on a Trust Foundation)

Best for: High‑net‑worth and/or blended families, second marriages, larger retirement accounts, multi‑property owners, business owners.

What’s included:

  • Everything in the Trust Plan, plus:

    • A/B or A‑B‑C designs and Credit Shelter (Bypass) Trusts

    • QTIP/Clayton options to balance care for a spouse with protection for children from prior relationships

    • Post‑death flexibility (e.g., disclaimers) and portability coaching (help a survivor preserve the estate‑tax exemption)

    • Coordinated drafting for retirement accounts (SECURE Act), life insurance, and business interests

  • Clear visuals: who gets what, when, and why; documented fiduciary lineup

Outcome: Preserves family intent across marriages, mitigates tax exposure, and reduces the chance of conflict.

Timeline: 5–8 weeks to design/draft/sign + 4–8 weeks for funding.

NJ note: We plan around NJ inheritance tax exposure for non‑Class A beneficiaries (e.g., siblings, nieces/nephews) and coordinate with CPAs on federal estate/gift filings when needed.EXPLORE ADVANCED PLAN

Which plan should I choose?

  • If you want speed, privacy, and fewer court steps → Trust Plan.

  • If your life is simple and budget‑sensitive → Family Essentials Plan, with a clear roadmap to add a trust later.

  • If you're seeking maximum asset protection, have a blended‑family or tax concerns (or HNW assets) → Advanced Plan + a la carte. 

We’ll model each option in plain English during your Design & Discovery Meeting (DDM)—no pressure, no jargon.

What this is: A focused call to learn your goals and confirm the right path (Family plan, Trust‑based, or advanced planning).

You’ll see: Straight answers, no pressure, and an overview of the exact next steps. HNW and business‑owner questions welcome; young families and seniors are encouraged to ask about urgency and updates.

We handle: Noting your priorities (privacy, tax, asset protection for heirs, simplicity) and confirming the documents/accounts we’ll need.

Typical timing: within 3 days of Step 1.

Your to‑do: Bring top questions and any must‑have concerns.COMPARE PLANS

A‑La‑Carte Menu (Add‑Ons)

Layer these onto any plan. We’ll tell you when a trust foundation is required or recommended.

Protection & care

  • Special Needs Trusts (SNT) — benefits‑safe lifetime planning

  • Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) — long‑term care strategy (5‑year lookback)

  • Kids Safety Plan — emergency guardians + caregiver packet (can be added to any plan)

Tax, retirement & insurance

  • Stand‑Alone Retirement Trust (SRT) — control/timing for IRAs/401(k)s under the SECURE Act

  • Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) — estate‑tax liquidity, disciplined distributions

  • Charitable tools — DAF, CRT/CLT for tax‑efficient giving

  • Large lifetime gifts & 529 strategies — annual exclusion, gift‑splitting, 5‑year superfunding (Form 709)

Advanced irrevocable trusts (HNW/complex)

  • SLAT, IDGT, GRAT, QPRT

  • QDOT for a non‑U.S.‑citizen spouse

Property, firearms, pets, business

  • Real estate & deeds (NJ) — shore/out‑of‑state coordination; 1031 exchange support

  • Gun Trust (responsible ownership & succession)

  • Pet Trust

  • Business succession — buy‑sell design, key‑person coordination; see our dedicated page

Post‑death help

  • Probate & Estate Administration

  • Trust Administration (notices, accounting, first‑90‑days checklist)VIEW ALL ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES

Ongoing Care (Optional, Any Plan)

  • AMP — Annual Maintenance Program: Annual review, beneficiary/title tune‑ups, simple updates.

  • CCP — Continuing Counsel Plan: Quarterly reviews, advisor summits (CPA/financial planner), ILIT Crummey notices if applicable.

Your life changes. Your plan should, too. These programs keep it current and funded.

Learn More

New Jersey Focus

Why Choosing a Local Firm Matters

  • Probate practicality: NJ probate can be simpler than some states, but it’s still public and can introduce delay. A properly funded RLT keeps administration private and faster.

  • Deeds & titling: We routinely prepare Bargain & Sale deeds, and align TBE/JTWROS/TIC ownership with your plan.

  • Inheritance tax: Certain heirs (e.g., siblings, friends) may owe NJ inheritance tax; we plan around it where possible.

What Makes our Process Different?

  • Strategy first, documents second. We design before we draft, so you don’t pay to fix the wrong plan.

  • Funding is part of the job. We don’t hand you a binder and wish you luck; we help retitle and realign so probate stays off your family’s plate.

  • Clarity by design. We write for real people. Your family shouldn’t need a judge to understand your wishes.

  • Legacy, not just law. We capture your values with a guided Legacy Interview—because heirs need more than assets.

  • Built for New Jersey. From Bargain & Sale deeds to county recording quirks and inheritance‑tax awareness for certain heirs, your plan is tailored to NJ realities.

FAQs

Will a Revocable Living Trust protect me from lawsuits or Medicaid?
No. An RLT is for privacy and administration. For asset protection or Medicaid planning, we may add irrevocable options like an ILIT or MAPT.

Can I start with Family Essentials and upgrade later?
Yes. We design with that in mind and credit prior work where possible.

How long does it all take?
Family Essentials: 3–4 weeks. Trust Plan: 3–5 weeks + 4–8 weeks funding. Advanced: 5–8 weeks + 4–8 weeks funding.

Do you coordinate with my CPA/financial advisor?
Yes—especially under CCP. Advisor summits keep taxes, funding, and investments aligned.

Do you show fixed fees up front?
Yes. After your design is set, we quote a fixed, all‑inclusive fee for the chosen plan.

Related Legal Services

Services we offer in connection with Estate Planning

Real estate transactions (purchase/sale, deed work, LLC transfers), business & succession planning (buy‑sell agreements, family LLC/FLP), civil litigation (probate disputes, fiduciary claims), and elder law/long‑term care planning.

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Quick Glossary

  • RLT: Revocable Living Trust (privacy, probate‑avoidance when funded)

  • DPOA: Durable Power of Attorney (financial/legal authority if you’re incapacitated)

  • AD: Advance Directive (medical decisions and end‑of‑life wishes)

  • HIPAA: Medical privacy authorization

  • SNT: Special Needs Trust (benefits‑safe planning)

  • MAPT: Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (long‑term care planning)

  • SRT: Stand‑Alone Retirement Trust (retirement‑account inheritance control)

  • ILIT: Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (estate‑tax liquidity/control)

  • QTIP/Clayton/Credit Shelter: Marital/tax tools for spouses and blended families

  • AMP/CCP: Ongoing maintenance programs (annual or quarterly)

Service Areas (New Jersey)

We regularly serve clients throughout Central and North New Jersey, including the Jersey Shore, Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon, Mercer, Warren, Bergen, and Monmouth counties.

Selected communities we often work with: Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, Bedminster, Bridgewater, Somerville, Hillsborough, Morristown, Madison, Chatham, Mendham, Peapack, Chester, Flemington, Clinton, Lambertville, Princeton, Pennington, Hopewell, Allentown (Mercer area), Hackettstown, Long Valley, Warren Township, Watchung, Ridgewood, Franklin Lakes, Tenafly, Red Bank, Rumson, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Colts Neck, Holmdel, Spring Lake, Sea Girt, Manasquan, Point Pleasant.

Don’t see your town? If you live in or own property in New Jersey, we can help—onsite or by secure Zoom!

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