2053 Woodbridge Avenue - Edison, NJ 08817

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

E693 VercammneLaw News

1.   Winter Wills & Estate Planning seminars

2.   Sign documents that comply with the HIPAA Law

3.   Think about who Will Administer your Estate?

4.   Make sure you have the correct Beneficiaries on IRA and accounts

5.   NJ DWI Law revised including permitting Certified Municipal Court Attorneys & non certified to request plea bargain of DWI cases

 

 1.   Winter Wills & Estate Planning seminars

 

Jan 23, 2024  Milltown Public Library Will Seminar at 6pm

Free to the public

https://fb.me/e/wrFABZCIU

 

Jan 24, 2024 South Plainfield Public Library Wills, Estate Planning & Probate Seminar 6pm

Free to the public

https://fb.me/e/5YnTWDP0x

 

Feb 5, 2024 at 1pm Members of North Brunswick AARP Senior Center Wills seminar

https://fb.me/e/11OqyeGg8

 

Feb 20, 2024  Neptune Public Library Wills & Estates Seminar

Tuesday 6:00pm

Free to the public

https://www.facebook.com/events/1374942360121275

 

2.   Sign documents that comply with the HIPAA Law

People will often find that they are unable to even find out whether a loved one- including a spouse- has been admitted to the hospital due to HIPAA (which stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) rules. You may have signed a HIPAA form at your doctor’s office or clinic. However, upon reading the fine print, you will most likely discover that your HIPAA authorization is only valid for that particular network, that it names only one individual who is authorized to access your medical information, and that expires after one year. Therefore, a comprehensive estate plan should include a new Power of Attorney and new Living Will that includes a HIPAA authorization that is valid for institutions located anywhere in the country, including when you’re on vacation, that designates a list of individuals you wish to have access to your information, and that doesn’t expire during your lifetime.

 

 3.    Think about who Will Administer your Estate?

       If you have minor children, your will is going to include guardians for those minors. You should have the attorney add a trust (known as a testamentary trust) for minor children in it. If you have minor children and you go online to set up trusts for your minor kids in your will, you may think you’ve got it all taken care of. However, if your kids are named as direct beneficiaries on your life insurance policy, the proceeds will never get to that trust and your children will wind up inheriting everything when they’re 18 years old.

 

4.   Make sure you have the correct Beneficiaries on IRA and accounts

         If you have a direct beneficiary named on a retirement plan, life insurance policy, or a transfer on death, and that beneficiary is alive, that can avoid probate.

       However, there are a number of mistakes people make with a beneficiary designation:

·      Not naming a beneficiary or a contingent beneficiary.

    You get the policy in place and then you die, which means there’s no beneficiary . Or, you name your spouse as the beneficiary and there’s no contingent beneficiary. Your spouse dies first and there is no beneficiary at all, and we wind up in probate. 

 

·      Naming your minor children as beneficiaries through a trusted adult.

The person who receives the money will keep, spend, or lose the money, and the minor beneficiary will not receive it. Even people with the truest of intentions are not protected from third parties. If they get divorced, half of that money may wind up with their ex-spouse and not to the minor children to whom the gift was intended.

 

·      Naming an individual with special needs as a direct beneficiary.

 

A person who relies on SSI or other benefit programs could be disqualified from receiving those benefits by naming them as a direct beneficiary. The solution to that is to hire an attorney to create a special needs trust (also known as a supplemental needs trust) to hold that beneficiary’s inheritance so that you keep them

qualified for all of the benefits they’re entitled to. You can make sure that money is available for everything the government doesn’t provide, which is a much better solution than disinheriting that beneficiary.

 

         Sometimes, people don’t bother coming in to talk to us about a comprehensive plan and instead, they use ad hoc planning, naming beneficiaries on every single one of their assets. This can result in having no money left in their estate, except a parcel of real estate. Their financial advisors and insurance agents are telling them to avoid probate but they die owning their home. Now,, we have one asset subject to probate because all the other assets passed outright to the beneficiaries through beneficiary designations. The home still has to go through a probate proceeding, which is still expensive. Someone has to pay for the attorney’s fees, the court costs, and the maintenance and upkeep of that home until it’s sold. They have to pay for real estate taxes and any improvements that need to be made to the home.

 

5.  NJ DWI Law revised including permitting Certified Municipal Court Attorneys & non certified to request plea bargain of DWI cases

      On December 22nd the Governor signed changes to the DWI law (NJSA 39:4-50) which did three pretty important things. 

1.Permits plea bargaining in DWIs. Certified Municipal Court Attorneys can now better help clients

2. Allows an arrested defendant to get an interlock device immediately and then get credit for it if sentenced later. 

3 extended the life of the 2019 penalty revisions which were due to expire. 

     The bill signed was

 ASSEMBLY, No. 4800


https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2022/A5000/4800_S2.PDF



As amended and reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 4800 concerns the use of ignition interlock devices (IID) for drunk driving offenses. 

      P.L.2019, c.248 revised certain provisions of this State’s drunk driving statutes. This legislation:

1) reduced the length of driver’s license forfeiture for convictions of drunk driving and refusing to submit to a breathalyzer and increased the period of required IID installation for these offenses;

2) required the license of a drunk driver who attests to not owning, leasing, or operating a motor vehicle to be forfeited during the required period of IID installation; 3) imposed certain IID compliance requirements to be met before an IID may be removed after the required period of installation; and 4) removed enhanced penalties for drunk driving and refusal convictions occurring in a school zone. The legislation is scheduled to expire on the first day of the fifth year after the effective date, which is January 1, 2024. 

       The bill extends the expiration date of P.L.2019, c.248 so that the legislation will expire on the first day of the tenth year next following the effective date of P.L.2019, c.248, which is January 1, 2029. The amended bill also clarifies that only the amendatory language and supplemental sections of P.L.2019, c.248 will expire on January 1, 2029, and the text of the statutes amended in P.L.2019, c.248 will return to the text that was in effect prior to the enactment of P.L.2019, c.248.  

        Under the amended bill, the amendatory language contained in this bill will also expire on January 1, 2029. The intent is for both the amendatory language and supplemental sections of P.L.2019, c.248, and the amendatory language in this bill, to expire on the same date. 

          In addition, the bill provides that a person who has been arrested for certain driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses may, upon arrest and prior to any conviction, voluntarily install an IID in one motor vehicle the person owns, leases, or principally operates, whichever the person most often operates, and request from the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) a driver’s license with a notation stating that the person is not to operate a motor vehicle unless it is equipped with an IID.

     The bill provides that the request is required to include a copy of the interlock installer’s certification and a copy of a court order indicating the date of installation and the related charges, to be submitted no later than seven days after the date of the court order. 

The amended bill provides that a person who has been arrested for a first DWI offense whose blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was at least 0.08% but less than 0.10%, who was otherwise under the influence of intoxicating liquor, or whose BAC was 0.10% or higher who voluntarily installs an IID and obtains a driver’s license with the appropriate notation pursuant to the amended bill’s provisions is not to be subject to a fine as set forth under current law. 

Under the bill, a person who has been arrested for a first DWI offense whose BAC was 0.15% or higher who voluntarily installs an IID and obtains a driver’s license with the appropriate notation pursuant to the amended bill’s provisions is to receive a one day credit against the period that the person is required to forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle under current law for every two days that the person has an IID installed and a driver’s license with the appropriate notation and is not to be subject to a fine. The bill provides that a person is not entitled to the credit against the period that the person is required to forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle if the violation of R.S.39:4-50 resulted in serious bodily injury to another person. 

        The bill further provides that a person who has been arrested for a second, third or subsequent DWI violation who voluntarily installs an IID and obtains a driver’s license with the appropriate notation pursuant to the amended bill’s provisions is to receive a one day credit against the period that the person is required to forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle under current law for every two days that the person has an IID installed and a driver’s license with the appropriate notation and is not to be subject to a fine as set forth under current law. A person is not entitled to a credit against the period that the person is required to forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle if the violation of R.S.39:4-50 resulted in serious bodily injury to another person. 

        Under the bill, the fine waiver for first, second, third, or subsequent offenses only applies if the person possessed a valid New Jersey driver’s license in good standing at the time of the offense and maintained a license in good standing until the date of conviction 

        Under prior law, for a first DWI offense, a person whose BAC was 0.15% or higher is required to forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle for a period of four to six months following installation of an IID and the IID is to remain installed for nine to 15 months after the period of license forfeiture. Under the amended bill, the person is required to forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle for a period of three months following installation of an IID, and the IID is to remain installed for 12 to 15 months after the period of license forfeiture. 

         Further, the amended bill provides that notwithstanding any judicial directive to the contrary, upon recommendation by the prosecutor, a plea agreement for a DWI or refusal to submit to a breathalyzer offense is authorized under the appropriate factual basis consistent with any other violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes (the State’s motor vehicle code) or offense under Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes (the State’s criminal code). The bill further provides that a person who enters into a plea agreement for operating or permitting another to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of a narcotic, hallucinogenic, or habit-producing drug will be required to forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle for a period of not less than six months. 

               Under the bill, in addition to any penalty imposed under current law, in sentencing a person convicted of a first violation of operating a commercial motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.04% or more whose BAC was at least 0.04% but less than 0.08%, the court is required to order the installation of an ignition interlock device in one non-commercial motor vehicle owned, leased, or principally operated by the offender, whichever the offender most often operates, which is to remain installed during the period that the person’s commercial motor vehicle driving privilege is suspended. 

Finally, the bill provides that nothing in the bill is to be construed to preclude the installation of an IID for a violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes under the appropriate factual basis. 

        As amended and reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 4800 (1R) is identical to Senate Bill No. 3011 (3R), which was also amended and reported by the committee on this date. 

           COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 

The committee amendments: 

1) provide that when a person requests a notated license from the MVC, the request is required to include a copy of the interlock installer’s certification and a copy of a court order indicating the date of installation and the related charges, to be submitted no later than seven days after the date of the court order; 

2) clarify that the fine waiver for a person who voluntarily installs an IID and obtains a driver’s license with the appropriate notation only applies if the person possessed a valid New Jersey driver’s license in good standing at the time of the offense and maintained a license in good standing until the date of conviction; 

3) provide that in sentencing a person convicted of a first violation of operating a commercial motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.04% or more whose BAC was at least 0.04% but less than 0.08%, the court is required to order the installation of an ignition interlock device in one non-commercial motor vehicle owned, leased, or principally operated by the offender, whichever the offender most often operates, which is to remain installed during the period that the person’s commercial motor vehicle driving privilege is suspended; 

4) provide that a person who enters into a plea agreement for operating or permitting another to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of a narcotic, hallucinogenic, or habit-producing drug will be required to forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle for a period of not less than six months; ….. More info in future newsletters…


You should hire a Certified Municipal Court Law Attorney such as Kenneth Vercammen to Represent you if you or family member/friend are serious about contesting serious charges. Very few attorneys in New Jersey have been able to pass the rigid test to be recognized by the Supreme Court as a Certified Municipal Court Law Attorney.

Ask your attorney if they have actually had trials in the past year or just plead people guilty. Ask if they even qualified to take the Certified Attorney test. If you had a health issue and needed surgery, would you go to a Doctor that was not Certified or even qualified to take the Board tests?

When your job and future is in jeopardy or you are facing thousands of dollars in penalties you need excellent legal representation. The cheap attorney is never the answer. Schedule a free  consultation if you need experienced legal representation in a Criminal/ traffic/Municipal Court matter.

 

E692 VercammenLaw News

1.  Ten Deadly Mistakes in Estate Planning

2.  Where there’s No Will …

3.  Tips How to hire a DWI DUI Attorney

4. Small Professional Office Space for rent

 

1.    Ten Deadly Mistakes in Estate Planning

By Kenneth Vercammen, Esq.

1.   Using check online forms rather than a licensed attorney. You would be foolish to try to do your own electrical work. We no longer even change our own oil.

The Surrogate at our Will seminar warned of cheap forms online rather than professional legal advice. The online form companies try to sell one size fits all. Shoes and pants are no one size fits all. 2.   Witnesses that are related to the Person signing Will or beneficiaries under the Will

3.   Losing the original Will or having the Will in a place the executor can’t find

4.   Failing to have a new Power of Attorney if your move to another state

5.   Not updating documents if the executor dies or is too ill or old to handle the responsibility.

6.   Leaving assets to kids or grandchildren who will get access when they turn age 18

      7.   Not having new documents drafted if you get separated or divorced.

8.   Listening to friends and nonprofessionals rather than a incensed attorney

9.   Waiting until you die or get hospitalized to decide it is time to have documents prepared

10. Not having a proper Will in place to make things more expensive and difficult for your family.

 

 

2.    Where there’s No Will …

 

    If you do not write a Will, the State has already written one for you. Your assets go to whoever a state law says receives the assets, or to the government itself!  A Will should be a statement to the things you truly care about: your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, your Church and charities.  You can consider remembering your church, school or local non profit

It’s time for a call to action.

             If You Have No Will:                                   

          

         If you leave no Will or your Will is declared invalid because it was improperly prepared or is not admissible to probate:

 

1. People you dislike or people who dislike and ignore you may get your assets.

2. State law determines who gets assets, not you

3. Additional expenses will be incurred and extra work will be required to qualify an administrator-Surety Bond, additional costs and legal fees

4. You Lose the opportunity to try to reduce Federal Estate Tax, State inheritance taxes and fees

5. A Judge determines who gets custody of children. A greedy brother or crazy mother in law could ask the court for custody.

6. If you have no spouse or close relatives the State may take your property

7. The procedure to distribute assets becomes more complicated

8.  It probably will cause fights and lawsuits within your family

9. If no partnership agreement or procedure to transfer a business and good will could be lost.

10. Children or grandchildren under 21 years old could inherit stock and waste money.

        

When loved ones are grieving and dealing with death, they shouldn’t be overwhelmed with Financial concerns. 

 

         Think- Who don’t you want to receive your assets?  Without a Will, they could receive your assets and request custody of children.

 

         Who is not the best choice to raise your children, or safeguard your children's money for college?   Do you want children, or grandchildren, to get money when they turn 18?  Will they invest money wisely, or go to Seaside and play wheels?

 

It is important to prepare a Will which set forth distribution of a valuable property such as the good will of your legal practice, the phone number of a private  practice and legal equipment you own.

A Will must not only be prepared within the legal requirements of the state Statutes but should also be prepared so it leaves no questions regarding your intentions.

 

THE FOLLOWING IS A SAMPLE OF A VARIETY OF CLAUSES AND ITEMS WHICH  KENNETH VERCAMMEN’S LAW OFFICE OFTEN INCLUDES IN A WILL

 

1ST:  DEBTS AND TAXES

2ND: SPECIFIC BEQUESTS

3RD:  DISPOSITION TO SPOUSE

4TH: DISPOSITION OF REMAINDER OF ESTATE

5TH: CREATION OF TRUSTS FOR SPOUSE

6TH: CREATION OF TRUST FOR CHILDREN

7TH: OTHER BENEFICIARIES UNDER 21

8TH: EXECUTORS

9TH: TRUSTEES

10TH: GUARDIANS

11TH: SURETY OR BOND

12TH: POWERS

13TH: AFTERBORN CHILDREN

14TH: PRINCIPAL AND INCOME

15TH: NO ASSIGNMENT OF BEQUESTS

16TH: GENDER

17TH: CONSTRUCTION OF WILL

18TH:  NO CONTEST CLAUSE

 

WHY PERIODIC  REVIEW IS ESSENTIAL

        

         Even if you have an existing Will, there are many events that occur which may necessitate changes in your Will.  Some of these are:

    

* Marriage, death, birth, divorce or separation affecting either you or  anyone named in your Will

 

* Significant changes in the value of your total assets or in any particular assets which you own

    

* A change in your domicile

    

* Death or incapacity of a beneficiary, or death, incapacity or change in residence of a named executor, trustee or guardian of infants, or of one of the witnesses to the execution of the Will

 

* Annual changes in tax law

 

* Changes in who you like

 

MAY I CHANGE MY CURRENT WILL?

        

         Yes.  A Will may be modified, added to, or entirely changed at any time before your death provided you are mentally and physically competent and desire to change your Will.  You should consider revising your Will whenever there are changes in the size of your estate. For example, when your children are young, you may think it best to have a trust for them so they do not come into absolute ownership of property until they are mature.  Beware, if you draw lines through items, erase or write over, or add notations to the original Will, it can be destroyed as a legal document.  Either a new Will should be legally prepared or a codicil signed to legally change  portions of the Will.

        

         A portion of your Will and Estate Planning can be deducted on your income tax return when it deals with tax planning. Thus, part of the fee is tax deductible for income tax purposes.

         Under the law in New Jersey, if a person dies without a Will and without children, their spouse will inherit all assets, even if they are separated from the spouse.  In addition, if you have children from a previous marriage, but no Will, your separated spouse will get half your estate. Therefore, you may wish to do the following:

 

1)  Have an Probate attorney prepare a Will to distribute your assets to the people you care the most about. If you already have a Will, prepare a new Will and have the old Will revoked. ( Your estate planning attorney will explain this to you.)

2)  Prepare a Power of Attorney to select someone to handle your finances if you become disabled.  Have your old power of attorney revoked.

3)  Prepare a Living Will prepared

4)  Change your beneficiary on assets you may own, such as stocks, bank accounts, IRA, and other financial assets. Change your beneficiary under your own life insurance, whether whole life  insurance or term insurance.

5)  Contact your company human resources person and change the beneficiary on life insurance, pension, stock options or other employee benefits. Note that your spouse must sign a written waiver permitting you to change beneficiaries.

6)   Keep your personal papers at a location where family can find them.

7)  Have your attorney prepare a prenuptial agreement if you decide to get re-married.

8)   Make sure the trustee for any funds designated for your children is the "right" trustee.

9)   In New Jersey, if you are married and  living with your spouse, under certain instances the surviving spouse has a right to "elect against the Will" The disinherited spouse may like to elect against the Will and try to obtain one third of the estate. Your attorney can explain how you can protect yourself and your children.                                         

10) If you have minor children, nominate someone under a Will to serve as guardian to the children. Although the surviving parent obviously has first right of custody of children, they may not even want custody.

 

SAVE MONEY- Have your attorney prepare a self- proving Will with a No bond clause

       

        Your estate will be subject to probate whether or not you have a Will and in most cases, a Will reduces the cost by eliminating the requirements of a bond.  With a well-drawn Will, you may also reduce death taxes and other expenses.  Don’t pinch pennies now to the detriment of  your beneficiaries  

 

        The proper preparation of a Will should involve an analysis of  the your assets, family and desires. 

        Estate Planning is the process of examining what will happen to your property when you die and arranging for its distribution in such a manner as will accomplish your objectives.

        The cost of a Will depends on the size and the complexity of the estate and the plans of the person who makes the Will. 

 

        Be sure your Will takes into account the 2018 Federal Tax changes and any Inheritance Tax changes. Also, ascertain if your Will is “self-proving”, which would dispense with having to find the Will’s witnesses after death.

 

 

OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE PREPARED BY YOUR ATTORNEY

-Power of Attorney- to allow a trusted person to  administer your assets during your lifetime, either upon disability or now

-Living Wills- to state your wishes concerning  medical care in the event of your serious illness

-Trusts (and Medicaid Trusts)

 

CONCLUSION

 

        Planning can only be done if someone is competent and/or alive. Make sure your assets can be passed directly to your loved ones. Kenneth A. Vercammen is a Middlesex County attorney who has

       Call our office to start the process 732-572-0500

 

3 .   Tips How to hire a DWI DUI Attorney

 1.   Have they tried cases in the past year?  Has the attorney had any trials in the past 12 months? 

 2. Did the attorney pass the test to be a NJ  Certified Trial attorney? If you were having surgery, would you be safe with a doctor that can’t pass the test and has not done surgery in 12 months? Practice makes perfect (Ken V has had full trials in past 12 months and is a certified trial attorney). Is the attorney a Certified Trial Attorney by Supreme Court of New Jersey, which required 10 trials mostly DWI. Would you go to a doctor if they had never performed the surgical procedure? If someone can’t take and pass the Certified Municipal Court Attorney test, do you trust them with your life? You should hire a Certified Municipal Court Law Attorney such as Kenneth Vercammen to Represent you if you are serious about contesting serious charges. Very few attorneys in New Jersey have been able to pass the rigid test to be recognized by the Supreme Court as a Certified Municipal Court Law Attorney. Ask your attorney if they have actually had trials in the past year or just plead people guilty.  

3.   Has the attorney been selected by the state bar president to lecture to state bar or serve on an important committee?

4.   How many books and articles has the attorney written for the bar association? Do you want to trust an inexperienced attorney?

5.   Has that attorney appeared with that court before? Don’t hire an attorney whose office is 60 miles away and has never appeared in that court?

6.   Did the attorney themselves interview or only has lower staff handles. Personally talk with the attorney on only one of your biggest decisions.

7.   Has the attorney been around a few years?

 

4. Small Professional Office Space for rent

Small Professional Office Space- two connecting rooms with a shared waiting room available. Freshly renovated. The office is located in South Edison and has a large window facing Woodbridge Avenue for Great Visibility, as well as side windows for natural light. Bright and clean it is located in a Law Office minutes from From 1, Route 130, Route 18 and the New Jersey Turnpike. Great opportunity for an Independant Accountant, Attorney or Small Start up.

- Close to Train

- Bus Line

- Shopping/Malls

- New Brunswick/Highland Park/Rutgers

- Metuchen

Newly renovated with:

- Color Coordinated Walls

- New Carpeting

Rent includes all utilities.

- Two private connecting rooms

- Shared waiting room for clients


- All common utility charges included

- Shared bathroom

- Alarm System/ Security Cameras

- Central a/c and heat

- On site parking for Tenant

- Quiet and Private

Price is negotiable for the right tenant call for an appointment

 

E691 VercammenLaw News

1.    New Year's Resolution: Put your Will, Power of Attorney and Estate     Planning in order

2.    You also need a Power of Attorney

3.    Happy New Year and Thank you Clients for a good year

4.  Upcoming Running Races for Charity often participated by Kenneth Vercammen 2024 

   

 

1.  New Year's Resolution: Put your Will, Power of Attorney and Estate Planning in order

 

      Don't put off having a proper Will prepared and your Estate Planning. With a Will we can save the family over $1,000 with a no bond required clause and self-proving Affidavit. Our office can typically prepare your Will and provide the documents within three weeks of payment. Many persons have put this off for thirty years. Don't wait until you are in the hospital to think about taking care of your family.

 

 

2.  You also need a Power of Attorney

 

   A Power of Attorney is a written document in which a competent adult individual (the "principal") appoints another competent adult individual (the "attorney-in-fact") to act on the principal's behalf. In general, an attorney-in-fact may perform any legal function or task, which the principal has a legal right to do for him/herself. You may wish to sign a Power of Attorney giving your spouse, children or partner the power to handle your affairs if you become ill or disabled.  More info at http://www.njlaws.com/power_of_attorney.htm

 

       An important part of lifetime planning is the Power of Attorney.   The power may be limited to a particular activity (e.g., closing the sale of your home) or general in its application, empowering one or more persons to act on your behalf in a variety of situations. It may take effective immediately or only upon the occurrence of a future event (e.g., a determination that you are unable to act for yourself). The latter are "springing" Powers of Attorney. It may give temporary or continuous, permanent authority to act on your behalf.

    Why would anyone give such authority to another person? The most important reason to use Power of Attorneys to prepare for situations when you may not be able to act on your own behalf due to incapacity, illness or absence. Such a disability may be temporary, for example, due to accident, or illness or travel, or it may be permanent. If you are buying or selling assets and do not wish to appear in person to close the transaction, you may take advantage of a Power of Attorney. 

 

       If you do not have a Power of Attorney and become unable to manage your personal or business affairs, it may become necessary for the family to have to spend $4,000 for a Guardianship Complaint and petition the Superior court to appoint one or more people to act for you. People appointed in this manner are referred to as guardians, conservators, depending upon your local state law. Few people want to be subject to an expensive public proceeding in this manner so being proactive to create the appropriate document to avoid this is important. A Power of Attorney allows you to choose who will act for you and defines his or her authority and its limits.

 

       Who Should Be Your Agent?

      Most people choose a family member to act on your behalf. Many people name their spouses or a child. We do not prepare Powers of Attorney with Joint agents.

      

      You should always name a successor person to address the possibility that the person you name as agent may die, be unavailable or unable to act when the time comes. Similarly, in a Will there is Executor #1, then an Executor #2, not joint executors.

 

      There are no special qualifications necessary for someone to act as an attorney-in-fact except that the person must not be a minor or otherwise incapacitated. The best choice is someone you trust. Integrity, not financial acumen, is often the most important trait of a potential agent.

 

      Finally, there may be reasons not to limit the gifts your attorney-in-fact may make to annual exclusion gifts in order to facilitate Medicaid planning or to minimize or avoid state estate tax beyond what annual exclusion gifts alone might permit.

Source: http://www.americanbar.org/groups/real_property_trust_estate/resources/estate_planning/power_of_attorney.html

 

[Kenneth Vercammen is Chair of the ABA Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Committee of the American Bar Associations Solo Small Firm Division with over 20,000 members.}

 

    You also need a Living Will/ Advance Directive. Modern medicine and machinery can keep a person alive for long periods of time.  Sometimes a person is often kept alive in pain or under circumstances that render him or her unconscious as to everything around them, while causing pain and anguish to the family.

 

     Our state has passed a "Living Will" law, often called a "Death with Dignity" law, which allows a person to direct that heroic measures not be taken to prolong life in these unhappy situations.

 

     This "Living Will" is different than a regular Will, which affects property rights. The "Living Will" is an independent document to be signed in addition to your regular Will. Please let us know if you want a Living Will/ Advance Directive prepared.

 

     For business owners a portion of your Estate Planning may be tax deductible for income tax purposes. Certain tax planning is deductible on a tax return. Your CPA may be able to deduct a portion of the professional fees paid for tax planning. The amounts to be deducted must be discussed with your CPA.

 

 

3.  Happy New Year and Thank you Clients for a good year

    

     I would like to thank my clients and friends for a good year despite the courts closing to in person trials. We switched to online preparation of Wills and documents. 

       We appreciate many referrals. So many of you were kind enough to tell others about our services and recommend us. Since 1985, [Over 35 years], I have helped individuals and families with legal matters. With changing laws, it is important that your estate planning documents are updated to reflect your family. As you know, all business must grow, and one of the safest ways to grow to get referrals from satisfied clients. Thank you for referring friends and family. May the New Year bring happiness and good health to you and those you love.

 

   After January 7, we will be shredding Municipal Court and Litigation files more than 7 years old. If you are past client and there is a file in our office that you do not want us to shred, please email us so arrangements can be made for you to pick up by appointment. Closed files are not stored in the office.

 

 

 

   We hope you have enjoyed the NJ Laws Newsletter, produced by Law Office. We spend hundreds of hours each year researching relevant cases, new laws and creating website articles for our clients and readers. We mailed to NJ clients our 2024 American Flag calendar to NJ clients.

 

 

4. Upcoming Running Races for Charity often participated by Kenneth Vercammen 2024

 

1/28, 2/4

FARC Freehold Winter 5k first five Sunday 10:00am   www.farcnj.com

 

   2/17/24   Manasquan Mid-Winter 2-mile Beach Run/Walk 11:00 Race starts on    Ocean Ave, Boardwalk and you run l 1/4 mile on the Beach, ending at Leggett's    restaurantPost-race party at Leggett's, plenty refreshments and food. Wakefern    Shoprite co-sponsor  

 

2/25/24   Bucks County Road Runners  BCRR Winter Series Sunday to Feb 26

   @ 9:00 am

https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Newtown/BCRRWinterSeries

https://www.bcrrclub.com/winter-series/winter-series-schedule-2022-23/

 

3/2/24 Saturday - Mt Holly St Patrick’s Parade 5K run 11am  https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/MountHolly/MtHollyStPatrick5K

3/16/24   Bar A Kilt 2 Mile Run/Walk   10am   Saturday

https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/LakeComo/BarAKiltRunWalkParty?rsus=100-200-a54891f7-ee0c-4330-aa92-77ce2eacf7ff

 

3/23/24   St. Paddy’s 5 mile    10:30 Freehold     great FARC event Dress warm FARC is a 501(c) 3 not for profit organization. which typically donate over $25,000 each year to local charities.  farcnj.com

https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Freehold/FreeholdAreaRunningClubsStPaddys8KaMetric5Miler

 

4/2/2024 Runapoloza  5k Asbury Park 8:30 am on Ocean Avenue in front of Convention Hall in Asbury Park. https://www.runapalooza.org

 

4/27/24    Lake Como 5k     Sat 10am   Start Bar A   

https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/LakeComo/JSRCLakeComo5K

 

 

KENNETH  VERCAMMEN & ASSOCIATES, PC ATTORNEY AT LAW 
2053 Woodbridge Ave.,Edison, NJ 08817
(Phone) 732-572-0500 (Fax)    732-572-0030 website: www.njlaws.com