Cherry Hill Estate Planning Lawyers
Did you know that only 50 percent of Americans have a will? At Begley Law Group, our estate planning attorneys proudly serve clients in Cherry Hill, NJ, and the surrounding areas. We help you and your family plan for both the inevitable and the unexpected. If you’re over 50 or approaching retirement, we can assist you in securing your financial future and safeguarding your legacy for future generations.
Compassionate Attorneys Helping Families in Cherry Hill Protect Their Legacy and Care for Future Generations by Creating Comprehensive Estate Plans
Every family should be able to rest assured, knowing that their financial affairs are in order and that, when they pass, their loved ones will be cared for.
Estate Planning Questionnaire
Have you considered special circumstances that may apply to your estate plan? Our planning questionnaires help you focus your unique needs.
The Basic Elements of a New Jersey Estate Plan
Every family is unique, and as such, no two estate plans are the same. However, there are several essential estate planning tools that apply universally. For instance, every estate plan should include a will, a power of attorney, and a living will. Additionally, depending on the specific needs of a family, trusts can be valuable in reducing taxable assets, minimizing probate assets, or safeguarding wealth from the expenses associated with future long-term care.
A Last Will and Testament
In Cherry Hill, NJ, having a will is an essential step in securing your estate and ensuring your wishes are honored. A will is a written document that specifies who will inherit your assets after your passing. These individuals are known as the beneficiaries. Additionally, a will designates an executor, the person responsible for managing and distributing your assets according to your wishes.
If someone in New Jersey passes away without a will, their assets are distributed based on the state’s intestate laws. These laws determine inheritance through the family structure, which may not always align with the deceased’s intentions. While intestacy laws serve as a safety net for those who die without a will, they are no substitute for a carefully crafted estate plan tailored to your unique needs.
For example, a few of the default intestacy rules in New Jersey are:
Children and no spouse
If someone dies with living children but no spouse, the children inherit everything
Spouse and children
If someone dies with a living spouse and children (and their spouse does not have children with another person), the spouse inherits everything.
Spouse and children from multiple marriages
If someone dies with a living spouse and children (and their spouse has children with another person), the spouse inherits the first 25 percent of the intestate property, within limits, plus half of the balance. Children of the decedent receive the rest.
Living spouse and parents
If someone dies with a living spouse and parents but no children of the decedent, the spouse inherits the first 25 percent of the intestate property, within certain limits, plus 75 percent of the balance. The parents of the decedent receive the rest.
Create your will
New Jersey intestate rules can be complicated and rarely work to effectuate a family’s desires; however, they can easily be avoided by creating a will. At the Begley Law Group, we have over 80 years of experience helping clients’ draft wills to protect their legacy and provide for future generations.
Trusts, Powers of Attorney and Living Wills: Estate Planning Is About More Than a Will
For families like yours in Cherry Hill, NJ, a will is a fundamental part of any estate plan, but it is only the beginning. While essential, wills have limitations that even the most carefully drafted documents cannot overcome. For instance, a will does not shield estate property from the New Jersey probate process or protect assets from federal estate taxes. Additionally, wills do not address important later-in-life or end-of-life decisions.
To create a comprehensive estate plan, it’s vital to include other tools such as powers of attorney and living wills. These documents provide guidance on financial and healthcare decisions, ensuring your wishes are respected during critical moments. At Begley Law Group, we help Cherry Hill residents build robust estate plans tailored to their unique needs and goals.
A trust refers to a three-part legal relationship.
What is a power of attorney?
A power of attorney is an essential tool for planning ahead in case of unexpected disability or incapacity, as it designates a trusted individual to make decisions on your behalf. This legal document plays a vital role in safeguarding an incapacitated person's health, well-being, and property.
Powers of attorney are highly customizable and can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual. For maximum effectiveness, it’s often beneficial to complement a general durable power of attorney with more specific powers of attorney for tasks such as managing banking, real estate transactions, and securities. This approach ensures comprehensive coverage while addressing particular areas of need with precision.
Powers of Attorney
A power of attorney is a legal document that grants one person the authority to make decisions on behalf of another.
Advance Healthcare directives
What is a living will?
A living will, also known as an advance healthcare directive, outlines an individual’s preferences for life-sustaining treatment in situations where they are unable to make their own medical decisions.
Unlike a healthcare proxy, a living will does not designate someone to make these decisions but instead provides clear guidance on the type and extent of care desired. This document is invaluable for family members, offering clarity and direction during emotionally challenging times when critical medical choices must be made.
Estate Planning: Beyond the Documents
In Cherry Hill, NJ, beneficiary designations play a critical role in creating a well-rounded and effective estate plan. To ensure alignment with your overall plan, it’s essential to coordinate beneficiary designations with your will and any trusts you have established. Life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and annuities should be regularly reviewed to confirm that the designated beneficiaries reflect your intentions as expressed in your will or living trust. Similarly, accounts like brokerage and bank accounts should be examined to ensure any POD (payable on death) or TOD (transfer on death) designations are consistent with your estate planning goals.
In some cases, retitling of assets is necessary to achieve your objectives. This process can help minimize federal or state estate and inheritance taxes or ensure that assets are properly titled to align with your plan. Retitling may involve updating deeds or changing the ownership of assets such as brokerage accounts. At Begley Law Group, our Cherry Hill estate planning lawyers can help you with these important steps to create a seamless and tax-efficient estate plan tailored to your family's needs.
Tangible Property
Tangible personal property should be considered as part of your estate plan. At Begley Law Group, our firm gives the client information on how tangible personal property should pass to the desired beneficiary. Typically, this is done by memorandum. If the tangible personal property includes firearms, steps must be made to ensure compliance with both Federal and State law.

Protecting Your Planning
At Begley Law Group, we provide clients with a comprehensive binder to conveniently store their estate planning documents. This binder includes a letter of instructions for clients to complete privately, outlining their preferences for burial or cremation, along with personal details such as the location of critical documents and a list of passwords.
The binder also contains forms to help clients organize essential information for their executor or power of attorney agent. These forms cover key details about insurance policies (property, medical, etc.), retirement accounts, pensions, profit-sharing plans, business interests, safe deposit box inventories, personal property lists, and any potential employee benefits. Additionally, clients can use the forms to provide information about creditors and, if applicable, a list of veterinarians to ensure their pets are cared for. This personalized approach ensures that all important details are easily accessible when needed.
Schedule a Consultation With a Compassionate Cherry Hill Estate Planning Attorney With Begley Law Group
If you have not yet created a New Jersey estate plan, or it has been years since you last updated your estate plan, contact Begley Law Group for immediate assistance. Our dedicated team of estate planning and elder law attorneys can help create a custom-tailored plan designed specifically for your family’s unique needs. Having served clients across New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania for the past 80 years, our strength comes from our experience. To learn more, call 856-235-8501, or toll-free at 800-533-7227. You can also reach out to us through our online form.