A considerable amount of thought and planning will undoubtedly go into the creation of your comprehensive estate plan. Consequently, you should put the same amount of thought into choosing an estate planning attorney to help you create your plan. The estate planning attorneys and staff at Augulis Law Firm understand how important your estate plan is to you and to those you love. With that in mind, we are committed to helping you create an Essex County, New Jersey estate plan that protects both your material wealth and your loved ones.
Essex County, New Jersey
Covering approximately 130 square miles in northeastern New Jersey, Essex County was home to 808,285 as of the 2017 Census estimate, making it the third most populous county in the state. Essex County is also considered part of the New York Metropolitan Area which had a staggering 23.7 million residents as of the most recent Census estimate.
The history of European settlers in Essex County dates back to 1666, when 30 families arrived from Connecticut and established a settlement along the banks of the Passaic River in what is now the City of Newark. The settlers went on to purchase the land from the Lenni Lenape Indians who inhabited the area for many years prior to the arrival of the settlers.
In 1862, Essex County was officially established as one of the four original counties of present day New Jersey. Over the next several decades the county prospered, becoming the first county in the United States to create a countywide park system in 1895. In fact, Frederick Law Olmsted, the creator of New York’s Central Park, designed 20 of Essex County’s 25 parks and reservations. Essex County continued to grow well into the first part of the 20th century with the opening of Newark Airport, Port Newark, and the Newark City Subway.
The county continued to expand and thrive over the remainder of the 20th century and into the 21st century. The original park system has grown into 5,745 acres of greenspace which include vast reservations, developed parks, golf courses, tennis courts, ice and roller skating complexes and a zoo. Residents and visitors alike can enjoy the beauty and serenity offered throughout Essex County while also remaining just a short ride from the dining, shopping, and entertainment options offered in the Big Apple.
Augulis Law Firm in the Essex County, New Jersey Community
Creating a comprehensive and cohesive estate plan today provides you with the assurance of knowing that everything and everyone that matters to you will be protected for many years to come. The estate planning attorneys at Augulis Law Firm are committed to helping our friends and neighbors in the Essex County, New Jersey community to create an estate plan that achieves all of their estate planning goals, both now and in the future.
The estate plan you create today will not be the estate plan you need in ten years because you won’t be the same person in ten years. The changes that occur in your life will precipitate corresponding changes to your estate plan to ensure that your estate plan remains relevant. Initially, a simple Last Will and Testament may suffice to ensure that you don’t leave behind an intestate estate in the event of your sudden death. As both your family and your estate grow, however, your estate plan will need to be updated to take those changes into account. A spouse and/or children will prompt you to consider adding incapacity planning to your estate plan as well as to make beneficiary and fiduciary changes to your plan. You may also decide to create a trust to protect the inheritance you plan to leave your minor children. Incapacity planning will also need to become part of your overall plan. The growth of your estate itself may also require you to incorporate asset protection and tax avoidance tools and strategies into your plan. Additional goals such as probate avoidance may also become important to you. As retirement looms on the horizon, long-term care and Medicaid planning should be incorporated into your estate plan unless you can afford the high cost of long-term care out of pocket. If you have strong beliefs with regard to end of life care, a living Will and/or an advance directive should also be part of your estate plan. Funeral and burial planning should also be included in your estate plan if you want to ensure that your wishes are honored after you are gone. Your unique needs, such as LGBT estate planning, business succession planning, or special needs planning will also be incorporated into your estate plan to create a unique plan that reflects your needs and accomplishes all your goals.
Our hope at the Augulis Law Firm is that we can be there with you as you pass through the various phases of your life to help ensure that your estate plan protects you, your assets, and your loved ones.
Contact Us
If you have additional questions about estate planning, contact the experienced Essex County, New Jersey estate planning lawyers at Augulis Law Firm by calling 908-222-8803 to schedule your appointment today.
