Probate & Estate Administration

Pre-Paid Funeral Plan in New Jersey

Should I Buy a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan? Pre-paid funeral plans can be a useful part of an estate plan. A traditional estate plan considers how your assets will best be divided upon your death. Why not finish your plan by providing for your funeral now?

Pre-Paid Funeral Plan in New Jersey2020-02-25T16:02:46-04:00

Income Tax and Estates in New Jersey

Income Tax and Estates The beginning of the new year means that we will be receiving tax documents in the mail which are needed for the preparation of income tax returns by April 15th. Executors and administrators of estates should be aware of these documents

Income Tax and Estates in New Jersey2021-06-08T12:46:42-04:00

Inheritance Tax in New Jersey

Who Pays the Inheritance Tax? Inheritance Tax is generally paid on inheritances left to anyone other than a spouse, children or grandchildren, in New Jersey. Money left to a sibling or a non-relative is subject to tax, which must be paid within eight months after

Inheritance Tax in New Jersey2020-04-15T17:02:22-04:00

Living Wills: What You Need To Know

What You Need To Know About Living Wills in New Jersey “I’m not afraid of death. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”—Woody Allen Living Wills, or “Advance Directives for Healthcare”, have been around for decades. Unfortunately, many people do not consider

Living Wills: What You Need To Know2020-04-17T16:10:57-04:00

Revocable Living Trust in New Jersey

Revocable Living Trusts are often recommended as a way of transferring assets to loved ones, in lieu of drafting a Last Will and Testament. The benefits of such a Trust are routinely stated: the need to avoid probate, privacy concerns and even avoidance of death

Revocable Living Trust in New Jersey2020-04-20T17:46:39-04:00

Our Client Care Program For Estate Planning Clients

The Client Care Program, now in its seventh year, was created to give our estate planning clients an opportunity to have their Last Wills, Powers of Attorney, Advance Directives for Healthcare or Living Wills, and other documents, reviewed in light of present-day law and opportunities. 

Our Client Care Program For Estate Planning Clients2020-04-20T16:13:39-04:00

Dementia and Signing Legal Documents

Dementia creates serious problems, no doubt. Among them is the compelling issue of who will make decisions for a person suffering from dementia, and who has the right to appoint such a decision-maker?  What are the spouse’s rights? How about the children, individually? More importantly,

Dementia and Signing Legal Documents2021-12-07T06:26:21-04:00

Inheritance Tax in New Jersey

Inheritance tax will be the last remaining “death tax” in New Jersey, as of January 1, 2018. On that date, the state’s estate tax will disappear. New Jersey Inheritance Tax NJ Inheritance Tax: Who's paying? The “Transfer Inheritance Tax” is assessed against inheritances

Inheritance Tax in New Jersey2020-04-15T17:16:32-04:00

What To Do When Someone Dies

A loved one has died.  What to do?  Whom do I call? Family and friends are all advising.  Some are conflicting. Some are warning.  I feel so stressed.  What do I do? First Things First: Take Care of Your Family and Yourself Take care of

What To Do When Someone Dies2020-04-21T14:48:45-04:00

Facebook: What Should Happen to People’s Online Identity When They Die?

The Facebook “Hard Questions” blog recently addressed the issue of what should happen to people’s online identity when they die.  https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2017/08/what-should-happen-to-online-identity/ This is a wonderful article expressing the emotional and practical issues surrounding one’s online postings after death and how, at least one company is

Facebook: What Should Happen to People’s Online Identity When They Die?2020-04-14T16:07:52-04:00

Who Has Control Over My Funeral?

“Control over my funeral” is becoming a developing issue in my practice.  Funeral directors have asked me to sign statements that I have such authority when I have buried my wards as a court appointed guardian.  Now, family survivors are disagreeing over the disposition of

Who Has Control Over My Funeral?2020-04-21T15:02:29-04:00

Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate? ™

A Complimentary Presentation by: Robert J. Shanahan, Jr., Esq. New Jersey Attorney at Law, Concentrating in Estate Planning and Elder Law June 9, 2017, 1:00 p.m. Hunterdon County Senior Center, Route 31 County Complex 4 Gauntt Place, Building # 1, Flemington NJ 08822 (908)788-1359 Passing

Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate? ™2023-12-08T05:46:35-04:00

New Jersey Estate Tax Repealed!

You could knock me over with a feather. I never thought I would live to see the day when the New Jersey Estate Tax would be repealed, but both houses of the legislature in Trenton passed a repeal bill, and Governor Christie signed it. (www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/njestatetax.shtml)

New Jersey Estate Tax Repealed!2020-04-17T18:00:35-04:00

Choosing an Executor

Being “Fair” By Naming All Children as Fiduciaries Many parents prefer to name all of their children as Co-Executors, Co-Trustees or co-guardians in their Last Wills.  They “just want to be fair” and not have to choose between them.  Making this, and other types of

Choosing an Executor2020-04-13T15:12:21-04:00

Robert J. Shanahan, Jr. Esq. named 2016 Five Star Professional as an Estate Planning Attorney

The law firm of Law Offices of Robert J. Shanahan, Jr., LLC is pleased to announce that Robert J. Shanahan, Jr. Esq. has been named a 2016 Five Star Professional as an Estate Planning Attorney. Robert J. Shanahan, Jr. practices in central New Jersey at

Robert J. Shanahan, Jr. Esq. named 2016 Five Star Professional as an Estate Planning Attorney2020-04-21T13:26:59-04:00

Collaborative Mediation and Family Disputes

By: Robert J. Shanahan, Jr. Esq. During this month, I have joined a team of presenters in teaching a four-session course on Collaborative Law, sponsored by the Hunterdon County Bar Association. The course presents basic training for lawyers and other professionals who wish to practice

Collaborative Mediation and Family Disputes2022-08-31T12:48:27-04:00

What to Do When Someone Dies

I often receive calls from people who have just lost a loved one and want to know what to do. Often, these calls occur within two days of the event, and the callers are either “shell-shocked” or, understandably, upset.  They are very worried about how

What to Do When Someone Dies2020-04-21T14:43:03-04:00
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