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We craft custom estate plan documents that reflect your values and financial objectives, coordinating your will and trusts with 401(k) plans, individual retirement accounts, and health care directives.
Your Trusted New Jersey Estate Planning Attorney
Estate Planning Attorney Serving Families Across New Jersey
At Ravenell Law, we help individuals and families across New Jersey secure their future with comprehensive estate planning. Whether you need a will, a revocable living trust, a medical power of attorney, or a clear beneficiary designation strategy, we guide you through every step. Our goal is to preserve your legacy, plan for New Jersey’s inheritance tax where it applies, and make sure your loved ones are protected. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with an estate planning attorney.
A New Jersey estate plan usually starts with a will. To be self-proving, a will must be in writing, signed and dated by the person making it and by two witnesses when it is notarized, with an attached acknowledgment and affidavit; that lets the Surrogate admit it to probate without calling the witnesses in. If you have children under 18, your will is also where you name the guardian who would care for them. And once a will is signed, it should not be marked up by hand — cross-outs or handwritten changes on the original can keep the Surrogate from acting and send the estate to Superior Court. Changes belong in a separate codicil or a new will.
Why Choose Ravenell Law for Estate Planning in New Jersey
Planning your estate is more than just organizing assets—it’s about ensuring your loved ones are cared for long after you’re gone. At Ravenell Law, we help New Jersey families navigate sensitive issues like guardianship for minor children, medical power of attorney forms, and instructions for bank accounts and real estate.
Navigating state-specific laws can be confusing, especially when it comes to taxes. New Jersey Estate Tax is no longer imposed for anyone who dies on or after January 1, 2018, but the separate New Jersey Inheritance Tax still applies, and it turns on who inherits rather than on the size of the estate. Gifts at death to Class A beneficiaries — a spouse, civil union or domestic partner, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, or stepchild — are exempt, and so are gifts to qualified charities. A brother or sister, or a son- or daughter-in-law, is a Class C beneficiary: the first $25,000 each receives is untaxed, and amounts above that are taxed at 11% to 16%. Nieces, nephews, friends, and most other beneficiaries are Class D, taxed at 15% on the first $700,000 and 16% above that. If your plan leaves anything to someone outside Class A, we look at how that tax will be paid so it does not land unexpectedly on the people you meant to help.
Planning for incapacity matters as much as planning for death. New Jersey recognizes two kinds of advance directive: a proxy directive (a durable power of attorney for health care), which names a health care representative, and an instruction directive (a living will), which states your wishes about life-sustaining treatment. Either becomes effective only after your physician determines you cannot make your own health care decisions. You sign it in front of two adult witnesses or a notary, and the person you name as your representative cannot be one of the witnesses. A separate durable power of attorney covers your finances and property; unlike an ordinary power of attorney, it survives your disability, and it ends at your death.
Unlike generic online templates, we offer personal attention, clear communication, and lasting solutions. Whether you have modest holdings or a larger estate, are reviewing life insurance and retirement beneficiaries, or are just starting out, our team works to make sure your estate plan reflects your values and goals.
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Our firm offers transparent estate planning fees and solutions tailored to everything from a simple will to a revocable living trust.
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We partner with financial advisors to create holistic plans that integrate surviving spouse benefits and transfer on death designations.
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Whether you’re facing end-of-life planning or updating an older plan after a marriage, birth, move, or change in the law, Ravenell Law provides clarity and peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from families in New Jersey.
How much does estate planning cost in New Jersey?
Estate planning cost varies depending on your needs. At Ravenell Law, we offer upfront quotes for everything from simple wills to complex living trusts, helping you plan wisely.
What documents are typically included in an estate plan?
Typical estate plan documents include a will, revocable living trust, medical power of attorney, and financial power of attorney. We tailor your plan to fit your unique situation.
Does New Jersey have an estate tax or an inheritance tax?
New Jersey Estate Tax is not imposed for deaths on or after January 1, 2018. New Jersey still has an inheritance tax, and whether any is owed depends on who receives the property. Spouses, civil union and domestic partners, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, and stepchildren are Class A beneficiaries and are exempt; brothers, sisters, sons- and daughters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and friends can be taxed. Very large estates may also need to consider federal estate tax, which is a separate question.
How are survivorship life insurance policies helpful in estate planning?
A survivorship policy pays out after both spouses have died, which can give heirs cash to cover expenses, equalize gifts among children, or pay tax owed by beneficiaries who are not exempt. We help you decide whether one fits your broader plan and how it should be owned and paid out.
What makes a will valid in New Jersey?
The Monmouth County Surrogate’s guide notes that New Jersey has no requirement that a lawyer prepare a will, but one small overlooked detail can invalidate the whole document. A self-proving will is in writing, signed and dated by the person making it and two witnesses when it is notarized, and has an acknowledgment and affidavit attached, so the witnesses do not have to appear before the Surrogate later. After signing, changes should be made by codicil or a new will, never by writing on the original.
Do I need a lawyer to make a health care directive in New Jersey?
No. The New Jersey Department of Health says you can complete an advance directive on your own, and it does not have to be notarized if two adult witnesses sign and date it with you. Many clients still prefer to sign their health care directives together with their will and powers of attorney so the documents name the same people and work together.
Can you help update my plan after tax law or life changes?
Yes. We review plans after marriages, divorces, births, deaths, moves, and changes in tax law, and adjust your documents and beneficiary designations so they stay legally effective and match your wishes.
What’s the difference between estate planning and a simple will?
Estate planning is comprehensive—it covers asset distribution, incapacity planning, and health care directives, while a will only addresses post-death wishes.
Serving New Jersey
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Your Legacy, Protected
With Ravenell Law, you gain more than legal services—you gain a trusted partner. Let us help you navigate the complexities of estate planning and elder law with solutions tailored to your unique goals.
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8033 Old York Road, Ste 206
Elkins Park, PA 19027Contact Us
(215) 935-6277Hours
Mon – Fri, 9:00am – 6:00pm
William S. Ravenell
Founder & Lead Attorney