You are in the right place if you are looking for a Sussex County, NJ estate planning lawyer. We know that it can be hard to open up to someone you have just met, and we take this to heart. When you choose our firm, you will be treated the way that we like to be treated when we engage professional assistance.

A Haven for Nature Lovers

There are a lot of open spaces in Sussex County because of the vast acreage that has been set aside for parks and wildlife areas. State parks in the county include Allamuchy Mountain State Park, High Point, Kittatinny Valley, Stokes State Forest, Swartswood, and Wawayanda State Park.

In addition to the state parks, there are 14 wildlife management areas that are regulated by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. There are also three magnificent areas that are managed by the National Park Service, so Sussex County is a slice of heaven for people that love nature.

Estate Administration in Sussex County

If you use a will to direct the transfer of your assets after you pass away, the executor that you name in the document will be the hands-on administrator. They will admit the document to probate, and the Sussex County Surrogate’s Court will provide supervision.

During probate, final debts are paid, and the executor will inventory the assets and prepare them for distribution. The court will examine the will to determine its validity, and will contests can be presented while the estate is being probated.

Guardianship Prevention

In addition to the estate administration function of the court, it also handles guardianship matters. Many elders become unable to make sound decisions at some point in time, and if there is no incapacity plan in place, the court could be petitioned to appoint a guardian.

When it comes down to this, the person that is named as the guardian may not be the individual you would have chosen to act as your representative. Plus, people in the family may disagree with regard to the proper way to proceed.

You can prevent a guardianship if you include an incapacity component within your broader estate plan. Durable powers of attorney can be used to name agents to make medical and financial decisions on your behalf if it becomes necessary.

Elder Care Planning in Sussex County

The 2020 census found that 18 percent of Sussex County residents are 65 years of age and older. As elder law attorneys, we focus on the concerns of these folks, and long-term care is at the top of the list.

Most senior citizens will incur long-term care expenses at some point in time, and 35 percent of elders will enter nursing homes. Medicare does not pay for the custodial care that nursing homes provide, and in our area, the median annual charge for nursing home care is over $160,000

Medicaid will pay for long-term care if you can qualify, and the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Waiver will cover in-home care. If you work with our firm to develop a nursing home asset protection plan, you can position your assets wisely with future Medicaid eligibility in mind.

The Sussex County Division of Senior Services is a prime source of information about the resources that are available to local seniors. If you visit their portal, you can learn about home health services, assisted transportation, Meals on Wheels, pharmaceutical assistance, and more.

Take Action Today!

There are many different ways to proceed when you are planning your estate, and the right way to transfer assets to one person may not be appropriate for the next. Your estate plan should be custom-crafted to suit your needs, and a Sussex County estate planning lawyer can provide the appropriate guidance.

You can set the wheels in motion right now if you give us a call at 800-281-1515. If you would prefer to send us a message, simply fill out our contact form and we will get back in touch with you soon as we can.