111. Update -Wills and Estate Planning” Seminar on January 10, 2024 from 12:15-1:00 pm
2.2. Lexi dog in Santa Hat.
3.3. DWI after a Christmas party?
4 4. Edison Office space for rent
5.5. How to Prepare Letters of Instruction To Family and Executor Regarding Funeral Arrangements, and Post-Death Procedures
11. 1. Update -Wills and Estate Planning” Seminar on January 10, 2024 from 12:15-1:00 pm
Please accept an invitation to you and your guests to join us at the "Update -Wills and Estate Planning” Seminar on January 10, 2024 from 12:15-1:00 pm in our office in Edison . Many of the Will seminars are on YouTube. Many individuals have not taken the time to have a Will or Power of Attorney prepared or have not updated in decades. In 2024 several Libraries and Senior Centers will have our Will and Estate Planning seminars.
As my clients mature, we handle more Wills, Estate Planning & Probate, Estate Administration and contested Will cases. The Law Office has become more efficient in preparing Wills and POA. Clients now simply type the interview form and email to the office so they don’t need to take off from work or travel. We now can prepare Wills online without clients having to come to the office!
The Law Office also handles Municipal Court cases via Zoom or online
2. Lexi dog in Santa Hat. Lexi visits the office weekdays Monday, Wednesday
3. DWI after a Christmas party?
DWI without license suspension in NJ
For first offender DWI, for decades there was no way to avoid a license suspension of 6 months of more.
Under a
revised NJ DWI law, sometimes your attorney can help you prevent a loss of
license more than a few days.
Your attorney can file Motions to oppose the interlock machine. If the Motions are not successful, some clients can apply for an interlock machine on the car they operate instead of the lengthy license suspension.
New laws signed expanding the use
of ignition interlock device for those convicted of drunk driving offenses and
of refusing breath tests. The legislation (S824) also reduces the length of
license suspension and forfeitures for these offenses. Effective for
charges after December 1.
This law requires that first time
offenders install ignition interlock devices (IID), at a cost to the offender.
IIDs and suspensions from then on are based upon the severity of the
offense.
First-time
offenders with BAC of:
0.08 to 0.10 - must install ignition interlock at own cost,
use for six months. License suspension of 30 days.
0.10 to 0.15 - must install ignition interlock at own cost,
use for six months to a year. License suspension of 45 days.
higher than 0.15 - must install ignition interlock at own
cost, use for one year to 18 months. License suspension of 90 days.
Mandatory interlock for refusal
No suspension on 1st refusal.
No more school zone offenses
2d offense - 1-2 yr. loss,
3rd is now 8 yrs.
School zone DWI eliminated completely
4. Edison Office space for rent
PROFESSIONAL OFFICE SPACE IS AVAILABLE IN EDISON LAW OFFICE
2053 Woodbridge Ave.
Edison, NJ 08817
Excellent space for an Attorney, Financial Planners, Accountant, Insurance Agents, and other Business Professionals as a 2nd location or location to meet clients in Edison. Next to Ken Vercammen’s office
The offices are located on the 1st floor of the building.
2 rooms office
office room # 6 approx 12.4 x 9.4
and front room appr 8 x 9 -office room # 5
plus use of reception room 16.6 x 7.2
Previously used by Robert Blackman, late
former Judge and Prosecutor of Edison
$500 per month [was $600]
Call 732-572-0500
Owner of building is local attorney, Kenneth Vercammen & wife Cynthia.
How to Prepare Letters of Instruction To Family and Executor Regarding Funeral Arrangements, and Post-Death Procedures [Form is at the end]
How to Prepare Letters of Instruction To Family and Executor Regarding Funeral Arrangements, and Post-Death Procedures [Form is at the end]
Compiled by Kenneth A. Vercammen, Esq. from various sources
We highly recommend all adults have a current Will, a Power of Attorney and a Living Will. In addition, individuals are encouraged to plan ahead and write messages to their family and executor detailing their specific desires regarding funeral and burial. Written instructions to your family and executor containing information and guidance will minimize uncertainty, confusion, and possible oversights following your death. The information you furnish should ease the settlement of your estate and provide for an orderly winding-up of your affairs. You need to share what you know with those who ( often suddenly and without warning) must step into your shoes and carry out your final needs. More info at http://www.njlaws.com/letters_of_instruction.html
What Should Your Letters of Instructions Cover ?
Letter to Your Family & Executor
Typically, this letter would be written to the person who is your executor. You may also want to address the letter to your children, particularly if they are the primary beneficiaries of your estate or they will be called upon to assist your spouse directly in the settlement of your estate and business affairs. The letter of instruction is prepared by you and is meant to provide assistance and guidance to your family regarding items not covered in your will. This letter will not change your Will. If you wish changes in your Will, speak to your attorney. Some possible points to cover in the family letter are :
1. Funeral and burial arrangements: Where, by whom, what kind, and at what cost? Many adults now go to their local funeral home and pre-select arrangements. Some even prepay.
2. Anatomical gifts: Identify the nature and location of any anatomical gift declarations you have made.
3. Memorials and contributions: Identify what organizations or institutions might be appropriate recipients of memorials or charitable donations made in your memory.
4. Preparation of obituary: Should your obituary be prepared in advance and be updated periodically? To which newspaper should it be sent?
5. Notifications of friends, relatives, business associates, and colleagues in charitable or civic groups. Identify those persons to be contracted upon your death, noting any particular requests or messages to be given, and listing their current addresses and phone numbers.
6. Location of your safe-deposit box and its key.
7. Location of your Will and estate planning documents: Include any trusts, buy sell agreements, or extraneous writings incorporated in your will.
8. Medical and hospital coverages and location of the policies.
9. Social Security and Veterans Administration benefits: Identify current or potential benefits.
10. Life insurance: Indicate where policies are located and what steps should be taken to collect policy proceeds.
11. Location and explanation of title documents and other records relating to your assets. Include deeds, stocks, bonds, bank accounts and deposits, retirement plans, and vehicle titles.
12. Identify obligations involving periodic payments, such as your home mortgage, car loans, and other debts, including amount and to whom payable.
13. Identify your attorney and professional advisers (including your accountant, broker, trust officer, and insurance agent) who you currently use or recommend.
14. Key employees and business friends to keep business operating until sale. The value of an ongoing business is much greater than a closed one!
15. Passwords for online bank accounts, and other finances. Where are they
16. Passwords for email accounts, plus online social media, such as Facebook.
You should review and update your letters of instruction periodically to be certain they are complete and current. In most cases, you should personally discuss the contents of the letters with the persons to whom they are addressed, especially so with your spouse and executor to amplify or clarify the instructions given and answer any questions. In all events, it is advisable to give the letters of instructions once written to the addressees so that they will be aware that the letters call for certain actions promptly after your death. A letter setting forth the above items will be especially helpful if your executor is someone who doesn't live with you and doesn't know the location of all your personal papers and assets. For those individuals with a business, a shareholder's agreement or buy-sell agreement is recommended.
Conclusion
While the preceding list contains possible topics to be covered in your letters to your family and executor, the list is by no means exhaustive. A number of these items may not be applicable in your situation, and probably there are many others that are applicable. The important thing is to spend some time now considering what you should tell those most closely associated with you to facilitate their handling of your affairs upon your death, and then write those matters down as soon as possible.
Each of us has our own style of letter
writing, especially when we are writing our loved ones or close
associates. In such circumstances a
special and personal form of communication is needed. We are mindful that each such letter should
be unique and that there is no "best way" to compose the letter. For
estate planning, speak with an experienced attorney.
Kenneth A. Vercammen is a Middlesex County trial attorney who has published 125 articles in national and New Jersey publications on business and litigation topics. He has spoken on Wills and Elder law on numerous occasions to the Adult Community Schools in Metuchen, Sayreville, Old Bridge, South Brunswick and Edison/Clara Barton Seniors and Perth Amboy Seniors. He often lectures to trial lawyers of the American Bar Association, New Jersey State Bar Association and Middlesex County Bar Association.
LETTER OF LAST INSTRUCTIONS
This list is designed to assist you or your heirs in locating important documents and information needed to settle your estate. You should review this document regularly and update as needed. Compliments of
KENNETH VERCAMMEN & ASSOCIATES, PC
ATTORNEY AT LAW
2053 Woodbridge Ave.
Edison, NJ 08817
732-572-0500
Name: __________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________
_______________________________________________
To:___________________________________________________
1. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
A. Funeral Director - Name: ____________________________
Telephone No. ______________________
Address: _________________________
Funeral agent [usually your Executor] __________________________
Is funeral and arrangements pre-selected or prepaid? _____________________
B. Burial - Yes ___ No ___ Cremation - Yes ___ No ___
C. Church/Clergy - Name: ___________________________________
Telephone No. _____________________________
Address: _________________________________
______________________________________
Letter of Last Instruction form rev 2019
D. I would like to be buried at:
Name of Cemetery: ________________________________
Telephone No. ____________________________________
Address: ________________________________________
_______________________________________________
E. ?In lieu of flowers, send contributions to?:
Name of Charity: __________________________________
Address: ________________________________________
_______________________________________________
F. Other: __________________________________________
2. LOCATION OF IMPORTANT PAPERS
1. Will
a. Date signed: _____________________________________
b. Where located: ________________________________
c. Name of executor: ________________________________
2. Durable power of attorney for finances
a. Date signed: _____________________________________
b. Where located: __________________________________
c. Name of attorney-in-fact: ______________________________
3. Living will
a. Date signed: _____________________________________
b. Where located: __________________________________
4 Trust [If none write none]
a. Date signed: _______________________________________
b. Where located: ___________________________________
c. Name of trustee: ______________________________________
5. Health insurance
a. Name of carrier: _________________________________________________
b. Carrier’s address/phone number: ___________________________________
c. Policy number: __________________________________________________
6. Life insurance
a. Name of carrier: _________________________________________________
b. Carrier’s address/phone number: ___________________________________
c. Policy number: _________________________________________
d. Named beneficiary: ______________________________________________
7. Retirement/employee benefits
a. Company name, address, and phone number: _______________________
b. Named beneficiary: _____________________________________________
8. Disability insurance
a. Name of carrier: _________________________________________________
b. Carrier’s address/phone number: ___________________________________
c. Policy number: __________________________________________
9. Long term care insurance [If none write none]
a. Name of carrier: _________________________________________________
b. Carrier’s address/phone number: ___________________________________
c. Policy number: _________________________________________
-Securities located at: ________________________________
-Deeds located at: _______
Pension Booklet and Summary: ___________________________
-Safe Deposit Box Key located at: _______
Bank Name: __________________________________________
Branch Address: ______________________________________
-Business Agreements located at: _______
-Income Tax Returns located at: _______
List of doctors __________________________
3 PROFESSIONALS
A. Attorney: Kenneth A. Vercammen
Attorney at Law
2053 Woodbridge Ave.
Edison, NJ 08817
Phone: (732)-572-0500
B. Accountant: ________________________________________
C. Financial Planner: ____________________________________
D. Insurance Broker: ______________________________________
E. Other advisors: ____________________________________
F. clergy: ________________________________
G. Other: _____________________________________________
4. PERSONS TO NOTIFY OF MY DEATH
A. Name: ____________________ Telephone No. _______________
Address & email: ____________________________________
B. Name: ____________________ Telephone No. _______________
Address & email: ____________________________________
C. Name: ____________________ Telephone No. _______________
Address & email: ____________________________________
D. Name: ____________________ Telephone No. _______________
Address & email: ____________________________________
E. Name: ____________________ Telephone No. _______________
Address & email: ____________________________________
F. Name: ____________________ Telephone No. _______________
Address & email: ____________________________________
G. Name: ____________________ Telephone No. _______________
Address & email: ____________________________________
H. Name: ____________________ Telephone No. _______________
Address & email: ____________________________________
I. Name: ____________________ Telephone No. _______________
Address & email: ____________________________________
OTHER SUGGESTIONS: __________________________________________
5. LIST OF MAJOR ASSETS FOR FAMILY
-Personal financial information including credit cards, loans, checking and savings accounts, brokerage accounts, stocks, bonds and U.S. savings bonds, mutual funds, outstanding loans both owing and owed
Stocks, bonds and other securities. How Registered. Approximate Amount of Each. (Joint - Survivorship - P.O.D. - Trust - Custodial) If none, write none
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Real Estate: Location and General Description - Record Owners -
How and When Acquired , Estimated Value - Mortgages, Approximate Amount of Each: If none, write none
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Insurance policies, pensions, retirement and death benefits:
(Identification and beneficiary) If none, write none
COMPANY AMOUNT OF POLICY BENEFICIARY
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Bank and Savings & Loan Association Accounts: Savings - Time Cert. - Checking - other. How registered (Joint, Survivorship, Trust, Custodial)
If none, write none
BANK APPROXIMATE AMOUNT BENEFICIARY
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Other Investments: Nature and in What Names(s) Held and the Approximate Amount of Each:
If none, write none
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Safe Deposit Box: Location and How Registered: If none, write none
______________________________________________________________
Liabilities More Than $2,000.00: If none, write none
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Major Personal Effects: Including Furs, Jewelry, Art, Cash on Hand and other items of Substantial Value and the Approximate Amount of Each:
If none, write none
Estimated Gross Estate:
$_________________________________________________
Computer passwords to online accounts are located at: [or passwords]
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
Copyright 2023 Vercammen Law
