National Estate Planning Awareness Week is October 21-27, 2019, and if you do not have a recent estate plan, now is the time to create one. The National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (NAEPC) reports approximately 56% of Americans do not have a current estate plan. Often, people who do not have one believe […]

Both a living will and a Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR) are advance directives. They both provide instructions on what to do if someone becomes incapacitated and cannot make medical decisions. However, each one has a specific purpose. A living will which is also called an instruction directive in New Jersey, is used to tell

Student loan debt is no longer just a concern for those in their 20s and 30s. Older individuals have student loans too. Seniors now have the highest rate of student loan debt. TransUnion, a credit reporting firm, recently released data showing student loan debt rose 161% for those 60 and older from 2010 to 2017.

Pour-over wills and living trusts work together to make sure that all assets go to the intended beneficiaries after death. With a pour-over will, all property not specifically given to someone in the will at death is “poured over” into the trust. A pour-over will works to transfer property into a trust which was bought

Most seniors do not realize how vulnerable they are when it comes to identity theft. Recently, an older adult received a text message that his bank account had been frozen. The text message appeared to be from his bank, and he was asked to call a number to fix the issue. He called and was

Change is inevitable, and it is likely that you will experience several significant life changing events over time. As these life changes occur, your estate plan will need to change as well. Keeping your estate plan up-to-date is vital to ensure that your plan reflects your current wishes and future goals for yourself and your

National Estate Planning Awareness Week was adopted in 2008 by the NAEPC – National Association of Estate Planners & Councils – to help the public understand what estate planning is and why it is such a vital component of financial wellness. According to the NAEPC, estate planning encompasses the growth, conservation, and transfer of an

Each year thousands of readers cast their votes for the attorneys they call on in times of need and for the 8th consecutive year, we are honored to say that attorney Chris Bratton has been nominated as “Awesome Attorney”. Chris is featured in this month’s South Jersey Magazine,  for the field of Estate Planning/Asset Protection. For the

This summer our employee spotlight is shining brightly on our Estate Planning Paralegal, Tina Lutts, as she celebrates her 17th year working for attorney Mr. Bratton! For the last 17 years, Tina has dedicated her career to helping our clients with their important estate planning documents and has assisted countless families through their planning and implementation