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Articles by Nino Coviello
Is Your Child College Bound? Don’t Forget These Important Estate Planning Documents
Turning eighteen is more than another important birthday: it marks when a child becomes a legal adult and new legal considerations for parents and children arise. In most circumstances, parents of college-aged children are no longer authorized to obtain information about their child’s medical care, educational records or finances.
Fast, Cheap, and Risky: The Problem with AI Estate Planning
Artificial intelligence tools can seem like a convenient shortcut to estate planning. They are fast, inexpensive, and the documents they produce look convincing. But these tools carry significant risks that may not become apparent until it is too late to correct them. Estate Planning Is More Than Documents Estate planning is not just paperwork. It is a process.
When to Review Your Estate Plan and Planning Documents
When you create an estate plan, it reflects your goals and wishes at that moment in time. Undoubtedly, life brings changes, and your estate plan should evolve with it. For example, the beneficiary you named when you first opened a retirement account may no longer reflect your current wishes, or a will drafted before your children were born may not account for your growing family.
It's Not Just Stuff: How to Plan for Personal Property in Your Estate
Family heirlooms, jewelry, artwork, and treasured household items often carry far more emotional value than financial worth. Because of this, when these items are not included in your estate plan, they easily become sources of conflict among heirs. While families understandably tend to focus on financial accounts and real estate, disputes over something like an heirloom ring or antique table can create lasting rifts.
OBBBA Changes Create New Tax Planning Opportunities | JD Supra
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, introduced wide-ranging tax and policy changes. It contains hundreds of provisions, which address issues from clean energy to federal debt ceiling to changes to the Medicaid program. Also included are permanent changes to federal estate, and gift tax regulations, which may spur some families to reconsider their existing wealth transfer strategies. What does the OBBBA mean for estate planning and wealth transfer?
Your Estate Plan May Have an Expiration Date: Signs It Is Time for An Update | JD Supra
Happy National Estate Planning Awareness Week If you think your estate planning is a one and done task, think again. As you and your family grow and change, your estate plan needs to change and develop right along with you. That estate plan you thoughtfully created years ago might not fulfill your current goals and intentions or protect your family the way you think it does.
Intentions Aren't Legally Binding, but Estate Plans Are: The Case for Getting Your Affairs in Order | JD Supra
We all want to do right by the people we care about. But life gets busy, and planning for the future often falls off your to-do list. Without a legally binding estate plan, your good intentions might be clear to you—but they won't be clear to courts, financial institutions, or your family when it matters most. So, what exactly does a formal estate plan accomplish? The answer goes far beyond what most people think about. What are the benefits of having an estate plan?
Shield Your Assets as Part of a Comprehensive Long-Term Care Plan | JD Supra
Whether you're assisting an aging parent or proactively planning for your future, the rising costs of long-term care are a pressing concern for many. Understanding how to protect your assets while ensuring access to necessary care is essential in safeguarding your financial future. According to the 2024 Cost of Care Survey by Genworth and CareScout: Nursing home care costs average $9,277 per month for a semi-private room, and $10,646 for a private room nationwide.
Planning for the Future with Advance Directives, POLST, and Funeral Representatives | JD Supra
Healthcare treatment. Hospital preferences. End-of-life care. Some choices are too important to leave to chance—yet they often are. A recent poll found that only 46% of older adults in the U.S. had documented their advanced healthcare preferences. Healthcare wishes can be hard to think about, but planning ahead can make sure your wishes are honored and may reduce stress on loved ones during a difficult time.
Planning for Your Pet’s Care following Your Incapacity or Passing | JD Supra
Whether you’re a dog lover, a cat person, or a caretaker for another kind of feathered, scaly, or furry friend, pets are an important part of our lives. Yet when individuals are creating their estate plan, their pet’s future is often overlooked. While 66% of U.S. households have at least one pet, a 2023 survey found that only 9% of people with estate plans made provisions for them. Why include your pet in your estate plan? You love your pet as it is a part of your family.
What Is Estate Administration and How Long Does It Last? | JD Supra
When an individual passes away, their assets must be distributed to their named heirs or beneficiaries. The beneficiaries may be designated as a co-owner or a beneficiary, or the assets will pass to the estate to be distributed by an estate representative.
Your Personal Belongings: What Happens to Your Tangible Personal Property After You Pass | JD Supra
Assets with significant monetary value like real estate, stocks, and retirement accounts are the key points most people consider when creating an estate plan. But what about your possessions? Personal possessions include items like furniture, collectibles, jewelry, family heirlooms, or artwork, and they often carry sentimental or financial value. Without a plan, determining what happens to these belongings upon your death can quickly lead to confusion and conflict among your heirs.
Planning for the Transfer of the Family Vacation Home | JD Supra
Your family’s vacation home is more than just a property. It is where your family has created memories to cherish for generations. Deciding how to pass down such a meaningful asset can be an emotional decision, but it also can present an opportunity for a strategic financial one. With the right strategy, you can use two common options to protect your property’s future, minimize tax liability, and preserve family relationships.
New Jersey Establishes Self-Certification Program for Design Professionals, Easing Building Permit Process | JD Supra
On Thursday, August 22, 2024, Acting Governor Nicholas P. Scutari (D) signed into law the New Jersey Design Professional Self-Certification Act (A4360/S3402), a Bill that requires the establishment of a design professional self-certification program to be developed by the Department of Community Affairs (“DCA”).
Empower Your Parents & Secure Their Legacy | JD Supra
No matter how much planning you do, you can never be too prepared to face the future of caring for your aging parents. While it may not be the most comfortable topic, having an open and honest discussion allows you to collaborate with your parents to make sure their voices are heard and intentions clear. A proactive approach minimizes potential confusion and helps secure the legacy they’ve worked so hard to build and maintain.
SCOTUS Agrees to Hear Case Concerning the Scope of Constitutional Challenges to Land Use Permit Conditions | JD Supra
Source: Saiber Real Estate & Land Use Alert The Supreme Court of the United States has agreed to hear Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, California, a case that concerns whether land use permit conditions in the form of monetary exactions created by legislation are completely exempt from constitutional review. As we summarized in a prior alert, the matter involves a property whose owner applied for a building permit to construct a single-family residence.
Fiduciaries in Estate Matters: Who do you Trust? (Pt. II) | JD Supra
In the last alert, we reviewed the responsibilities of an executor. In this next introductory review, we will discuss the role of a trustee. Before we define the role of a trustee, we must explain the definition of a trust first. A trust is an arrangement where a person (or entity) becomes the owner of another’s assets for the benefit of others (the beneficiaries). The trustee is the person or entity that takes ownership and control of the trust assets.
Fiduciaries in Estate Matters: Who do you Trust? (Pt. II)
Part 2 of Our Series Where We Review the Key Players in an Estate Plan. Source: Saiber Estate Planning Alert In the last alert, we reviewed the responsibilities of an executor. In this next introductory review, we will discuss the role of a trustee. Before we define the role of a trustee, we must explain the definition of a trust first. A trust is an arrangement where a person (or entity) becomes the owner of another’s assets for the benefit of others (the beneficiaries).
SCOTUS Asked to Clarify the Scope of Constitutional Challenges to Land Use Permit Conditions | JD Supra
Source: Saiber Real Estate & Land Use Alert In Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, California, when George Sheetz sought a building permit to construct a single-family residence, the County of El Dorado agreed to issue the permit with one important condition: he had to pay a $23,420 traffic impact mitigation fee.
New Jersey Senate Passes Bill Reducing Parking Requirements for Developments Located Adjacent to Public Transit | JD Supra
The State of New Jersey has continued to address parking considerations in public and private spaces. Earlier this year, lawmakers introduced legislation that would require reserved parking spaces for families with young children and older adults. More recently, the New Jersey Senate passed Bill S3605, which provides for a reduction in minimum parking requirements for developments that are situated near public transportation facilities.
Fiduciaries in Estate Matters: Who Do You Trust? | JD Supra
As part of the estate planning process, clients nominate trusted friends or family members (or sometimes, banks or other institutions, depending on the role) to serve key roles: Executor, Trustee, Guardian, Agent under a Power of Attorney, Health Care Representative and Funeral Agent. Clients, as well as these individuals they intend to appoint, understandably want an explanation of the responsibilities of each of these key roles.
New Jersey Allows for Expedited Construction Inspections | JD Supra
On January 5, 2023, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law an amendment to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-132 (which relates to, among other things inspections of construction projects by an enforcing agency). The amendment provides that if an enforcing agency is requested to perform a required construction inspection but cannot do so within three business days, the agency and owner may agree to a different date and time for the inspection.
New Jersey Allows for Expedited Construction Inspections
On January 5, 2023, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law an amendment to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-132 (which relates to, among other things inspections of construction projects by an enforcing agency). The amendment provides that if an enforcing agency is requested to perform a required construction inspection but cannot do so within three business days, the agency and owner may agree to a different date and time for the inspection.
IRS Announces Increases to Estate, Gift and Generation Skipping Transfer Tax Amounts for 2023 | JD Supra
The basic exclusion amount is the total amount that an individual may pass by gifts made during his or her lifetime or by devises and bequests at his or her death without liability for federal estate, gift or generation skipping transfer tax. In 2022, the amount exempt from these taxes was $12,060,000 per person. In 2023, the exempt amount will increase to $12,920,000. The lifetime basic exclusion amount is scheduled to expire in 2026.
Estate Planning Checklist: Something to Consider Before Sending your Child off to College | JD Supra
Before you pack the car and bring your student to their new home at college, there is an important bit of estate planning each family should consider. At the age of eighteen, a child become a legal adult. Therefore, in most circumstances, parents of college aged children are no longer authorized to obtain information about their child’s medical care or finances. We suggest that young adults consider signing a Power of Attorney and Advance Directive for Health Care.
Bringing It All Back Home: Cannabis and Zoning
New Jersey’s recreational cannabis market is finally here and in full swing. As the market continues to grow, cannabis license applicants must consider how zoning will impact their contemplated business operations in any given New Jersey municipality. In short, although a license may permit you to operate a cannabis business, zoning will dictate where, when, and “how”—that is, what conditions are attached to your operation.
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Issued by FinCEN for Potential New Real Estate Sector Reporting Requirements | JD Supra
On December 8, 2021, the Federal Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) division of the United States Treasury published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ANPRM”) (Anti-Money Laundering Regulations for Real Estate Transactions, 86 Fed. Reg. 69589, Dec. 8, 2021) seeking to solicit public comment on a potential rule designed to tighten reporting requirements imposed by the Bank Secrecy Act.
Recent Bills Introduced in New Jersey Address COVID-19 Real Estate Evictions and Lawsuits | JD Supra
New legislation in New Jersey has been introduced that, if enacted, will impact tenants, landlords, and planned real estate developments (most commonly condominiums) in the State; one that seeks to strike a balance between tenants' and landlords' rights while ending the current ban on evictions, and the other created to limit lawsuits against planned real estate developments stemming from COVID-19 exposure in common facilities.
Recent Bills Introduced in New Jersey Address COVID-19 Real Estate Evictions and Lawsuits
Source: Saiber Real Estate Law Alert New legislation in New Jersey has been introduced that, if enacted, will impact tenants, landlords, and planned real estate developments (most commonly condominiums) in the State; one that seeks to strike a balance between tenants' and landlords' rights while ending the current ban on evictions, and the other created to limit lawsuits against planned real estate developments stemming from COVID-19 exposure in common facilities.
New Jersey Senate to Consider Bill to Curb Warehouse “Sprawl” | JD Supra
Source: New Jersey Warehousemen & Movers Association Newsletter The New Jersey Senate is scheduled to consider bill S3688, which, if signed into law, would amend New Jersey’s Municipal Land Use Law (“MLUL”) to impose new procedures and requirements for the approval to develop certain warehouses. The MLUL is New Jersey’s primary statute that governs land use and development in New Jersey.
Two Important Decisions for Parties Involved in Land Use and Development
Analysis Over the past few weeks, the New Jersey Supreme Court and the Federal Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued important decisions that have implications for all parties involved in land use and development, including developers, land use boards, local governments, homeowners and vacationers.
3 NJ Cases Weigh Anti-Discrimination Law And Land Use
Law360 (December 10, 2019, 5:31 PM EST) -- From the Mount Laurel doctrine to the sale of residential homes, discrimination disputes over land development and real estate transactions have shaped New Jersey’s long history of land use and real estate law. In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court case of Village of Euclid v.
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