Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Living Wills in Hackensack, NJ
Plan ahead to protect your assets and your loved ones. A will — sometimes called a Last Will and Testament — states your final wishes: who receives your property, who administers your estate, and who cares for your minor children. A clear, professionally drafted will prevents confusion and dissipates tension between family members at an already difficult time. Russo Petrullo Law Group, LLC helps individuals and families throughout Bergen County take the legal steps that provide true peace of mind.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will?
If you die without a valid will, New Jersey's intestacy laws — not you — decide who inherits your property. The results often surprise people: depending on your family situation, your assets may be divided among relatives in ways you never intended, an unmarried partner may receive nothing at all, and a court will decide who administers your estate and who raises your minor children. A properly executed will puts those decisions back in your hands.
Our Estate Planning Services
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Simple wills — naming your beneficiaries, executor, and guardians for minor children
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Powers of attorney — authorizing a trusted person to manage your finances if you cannot
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Living wills (advance healthcare directives) — stating your medical treatment wishes and naming a healthcare representative
Choosing Your Executor and Guardians
Two of the most important decisions in any will are who will administer your estate and who will raise your children if the unthinkable happens. Your executor should be organized, trustworthy, and willing to serve; your children's guardian should share your values and have the practical ability to take on the role. We walk you through these choices — including naming backups — so your plan works even if circumstances change.
Powers of Attorney: Protection While You're Living
A will only takes effect at death. A durable power of attorney protects you while you are alive, authorizing a person you choose to pay your bills, manage your accounts, and handle your affairs if illness or injury leaves you unable to act. Without one, your family may need to go to court to be appointed your guardian — an expensive, public, and stressful process that a simple document prevents.
Living Wills and Healthcare Directives
A living will, or advance healthcare directive, states your wishes about medical treatment if you cannot speak for yourself, and names a healthcare representative to make decisions on your behalf. It spares your loved ones from having to guess — or argue about — what you would have wanted at the worst possible moment.
The Risks of Do-It-Yourself Wills
New Jersey law imposes strict formalities on how a will must be signed and witnessed, and online forms rarely account for them — or for the realities of your family. A will that is improperly executed, ambiguous, or out of date can be worse than no will at all, inviting exactly the family conflict you were trying to prevent. Having your will professionally drafted, with a self-proving affidavit that streamlines probate, is a modest investment in certainty.
When to Update Your Will
An estate plan should be reviewed after every major life event: marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a significant change in assets, or the death of a named beneficiary or executor. Divorce in particular has important effects on an existing will — if your documents were drafted before a divorce, they should be reviewed now. As a family law firm, we regularly update estate documents as part of helping clients start their next chapter.
Why Have Russo Petrullo Law Group Prepare Your Documents
Estate documents are only as good as the thought behind them. We take the time to understand your family — including the blended families, divorces, and estranged relatives that form documents ignore — and we draft wills, powers of attorney, and directives that are executed properly under New Jersey law, with self-proving affidavits that make probate easier for the people you leave behind. Most clients complete the entire process in a matter of weeks, with documents built to last.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a will if I don't have a large estate?
Yes. A will is about control, not wealth. It determines who inherits your property, who handles your affairs, and — most importantly for parents — who you nominate to care for your children.
Does a will avoid probate?
No — a will is administered through probate, though New Jersey's probate process is simpler than most states'. What a will does is control the outcome. Certain assets, like joint accounts and life insurance with named beneficiaries, pass outside the will entirely, which is why beneficiary designations should be reviewed along with your will.
What is the difference between a will and a living will?
A will controls what happens to your property after death. A living will speaks for you while you are alive but unable to communicate, stating your wishes about medical care and naming someone to make healthcare decisions for you.
How often should I review my estate plan?
Review your documents every few years and after any major life change — especially marriage, divorce, a new child, or a significant change in your finances.
Do I need a lawyer to make a will in New Jersey?
The law doesn't require one — but New Jersey's execution formalities do not forgive mistakes, and errors usually surface only after it is too late to fix them. Professional drafting costs little compared to the litigation an invalid or ambiguous will can cause.
What is a self-proving will?
A self-proving will includes a notarized affidavit signed by you and your witnesses, allowing the will to be admitted to probate without tracking down witnesses years later. We prepare every will this way as a matter of course.
Get Peace of Mind Today
Whether you need a simple will, a power of attorney, or a living will, we can help. Call (888) 332-9900 today or visit our office at 79 Main Street, Suite 2, Hackensack, NJ 07601 to schedule your free initial consultation.
