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Retirement and Estate Planning – a Perfect Pair

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Apr 02, 2025 | 0 Comments

Retirement is a milestone that many of us have worked toward for decades, but planning for a secure and comfortable retirement doesn’t end with saving money. In New Jersey, where living costs and taxes can impact long-term financial stability, retirement planning must go hand in hand with estate planning. Ensuring that your assets are well-managed and passed on according to your wishes is crucial for your peace of mind and your loved ones’ future.

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Creating and Preserving Your Legacy with a Dynasty Trust

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Mar 26, 2025 | 0 Comments

What is a Dynasty Trust, and why should you consider one? If you have significant wealth, one of the best ways to protect your family and transfer your wealth is through a dynasty trust. However, setting one up requires considerable financial and estate planning knowledge. As experienced estate planning attorneys, we can explore all options to protect your legacy and decide if a dynasty trust is right for you. 

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What Is a Residuary Clause and Why Is It Important?

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Mar 12, 2025 | 0 Comments

When developing your estate plan, addressing every account or property you own is nearly impossible. There are sure to be some things you unintentionally overlook. However, by including a residuary clause, you can intentionally disburse any remaining items inadvertently left over during the estate or trust administration process to a named beneficiary or group of beneficiaries.

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5 Good Reasons to Decant a Trust (and How to Fix It)

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Mar 05, 2025 | 0 Comments

Today, many estate plans contain an irrevocable trust that will continue for a spouse’s lifetime and then continue for the benefit of several generations. Because trusts like these are designed to span multiple decades, they must include trust decanting provisions to address changes in circumstances, beneficiaries, and governing laws.

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Understanding the Basics of Elder Law: What You Need to Know

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Feb 26, 2025 | 0 Comments

As we age, legal and financial matters become increasingly important. Elder law is a specialized area of law that focuses on issues affecting older adults and their families. Whether planning for your future or helping a loved one navigate legal complexities, understanding the basics of elder law can empower you to make informed decisions.

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Estate Planning for the Newly Married

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Feb 19, 2025 | 0 Comments

Now is the perfect time to start working on an estate plan. As newlyweds, you are likely deciding which of your accounts and property (your assets) to combine and how to turn two households into one. You may also be setting up new bank accounts and creating a plan for paying shared bills and other expenses. You can use that time, energy, and work to leapfrog into planning your future, which will prepare you for the following stages of your new life together.

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Understanding Medicaid: A Vital Lifeline for Millions

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Jan 29, 2025 | 0 Comments

Medicaid is one of the most critical public health programs in the United States, providing essential healthcare coverage to millions of Americans. Whether you or a loved one are navigating healthcare options or planning for long-term care, understanding Medicaid’s role, eligibility requirements, and benefits is crucial.

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You Can Benefit from Giving Gifts

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Jan 15, 2025 | 0 Comments

A benefit of working hard is sharing the fruits of your labor with your loved ones. However, gift or estate tax consequences may impact high-net-worth clients when they share their wealth. By crafting a comprehensive estate plan, we can address these concerns and protect high-net-worth clients and their loved ones. The following three types of trusts may assist high-net-worth clients in sharing their wealth in a tax-advantageous way.

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Building a Strong Caregiver Team for Your Child with Special Needs

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Jan 01, 2025 | 0 Comments

Caring for a child with special needs often feels like a full-time responsibility that only you can manage. The thought of asking for help may seem overwhelming, whether due to a lack of time to train someone or a belief that no one can care for your child as well as you. However, seeking support provides much-needed relief and ensures that your child becomes accustomed to receiving care from others—a critical step for the future.

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What You Need to Know About Self-Canceling Installment Notes

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Dec 25, 2024 | 0 Comments

The Internal Revenue Code assesses a tax (gift or estate) on transferring money or property from one person to another during life or at death, with some exceptions. If you own accounts or property worth a lot of money and expect them to continue to increase in value, you may want to transfer them out of your estate so you will no longer own them, and they will not be subject to estate tax at your death.

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What Can I Not Do as Trustmaker and Trustee of a Revocable Living Trust?

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Dec 11, 2024 | 0 Comments

Wills and living trusts are two of the most fundamental estate planning documents. While both accomplish the same primary objective in an estate plan of directing the distributions of your money and property to your desired beneficiaries after you pass away, a revocable living trust, often referred to simply as a living trust or an inter vivos trust, provides added flexibility and functionality, including incapacity planning.

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6 Ways a Trust Protector Can Help You

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Dec 04, 2024 | 0 Comments

Trust protectors are commonly used in the United States. Essentially, a trust protector serves as an appointed authority over a trust that will be in effect for an extended period. Trust protectors ensure that trustees maintain the integrity of the trust, make solid distribution and investment decisions, and adapt the trust to changes in law and circumstance.

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