SERVICES
Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning
Practical estate planning for business owners, individuals and families in Woodcliff Lake, Bergen County and across New Jersey.
Your plans deserve to be on paper
Estate planning is not something you do when you are old. It is something you do once you have something worth protecting. Whether you're building a business, raising a family, or caring for someone with special needs, having the right documents in place means the people you care about won't be left guessing.
Liva Law handles estate planning for business owners and individuals across Bergen County and the rest of New Jersey, from straightforward wills to living trusts and special needs planning. We make the process clear and manageable, without unnecessary complexity.
Related pages cover wills and trusts and powers of attorney and advance directives in more detail. For owners, the plan should also account for how the business itself is owned and governed.
SERVICES
What We Handle
Last Wills & Testaments
A will is the foundation of any estate plan. It directs how your assets are distributed, names an executor, and, if you have children, designates a guardian. Without one, those decisions are made by the state.
Revocable Living Trusts
A revocable trust can keep assets that are properly transferred into it out of probate and keep those arrangements private. Whether that happens depends on how the trust is drafted and, above all, on whether it is actually funded. Assets left outside the trust generally still pass through probate. A revocable trust does not by itself reduce taxes or protect assets from creditors.
Irrevocable Trusts
Irrevocable trusts are used for asset protection, tax planning, and long-term care planning. None of those results are automatic. Whether a trust protects assets from creditors, affects Medicaid eligibility, or reduces estate tax exposure depends on its purpose, its terms, when and how it is funded, and your circumstances. We walk through what a given structure can and cannot do before anything is signed.
Special Needs Trusts
Designed to provide for a loved one with a disability while working within the rules for government benefits such as Medicaid or SSI. Careful drafting and administration are required, and eligibility outcomes depend on federal and state rules and the individual's situation.
Powers of Attorney
Designates someone you trust to manage your financial and legal affairs if you become incapacitated. Essential for business owners who need continuity if they're unable to act.
Healthcare Directives & Living Wills
Documents your healthcare wishes and names a healthcare proxy to make medical decisions on your behalf. Ensures your wishes are followed when you can't speak for yourself.
Ready to Get Started?
Schedule a consultation to discuss your estate planning needs.
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