Cherry Hill Estate Planning Attorney
Estate Planning Lawyer in Cherry Hill Township, NJ, Delivering Personalized Asset Protection and Legacy Planning in Camden County and Throughout South Jersey
Worried about thinking what would happen to your Cherry Hill home, finances, and healthcare decisions if you couldn't speak for yourself tomorrow? Our Cherry Hill estate planning attorney helps you create personalized plans that work exactly how you want.
Many Cherry Hill residents don't realize that without proper documents, their families could face months of court proceedings just to pay bills or make medical choices for them if they become incapacitated. We help you create personalized plans that protect what matters most to you. We explain everything in simple terms so you feel confident about your plan.
Take control of your future today. Contact us to schedule your meeting and protect yourself and your loved ones.
How Estate Planning Helps Cherry Hill Parents Fulfill Their Wishes
A comprehensive estate plan serves as your voice in two critical situations:
- When you’re alive but incapacitated
- When you’re no longer here
When You’re Alive But Incapacitated
When you're alive but unable to speak for yourself, your estate plan becomes your voice.
Imagine lying in a hospital bed after a serious car accident. Without an estate plan in place, doctors, your spouse, children, or everyone else makes your medical decisions. Your family could be left arguing with doctors or even fighting among themselves about your care.
This happens to most families in Cherry Hill who don’t do estate planning. When their sole breadwinner passes away, the other spouse can't access their joint accounts because their name wasn't on the right documents. Their children disagree about treatment options, creating tension during an already difficult time.
An estate plan, including a healthcare power of attorney document, could have prevented this entire situation.
When You're No Longer Here
When you pass away, your estate plan ensures your assets go exactly where you want. Your home, your retirement accounts, even sentimental items like family photos, all distributed according to your wishes, not a judge's decision.
Without estate planning, New Jersey intestacy laws determine who gets what, regardless of your wishes. The state's formula might give most assets to a spouse you're separated from. Or your adult children might receive a lump sum they're not prepared to handle.
That’s why estate planning isn't just for the wealthy. It's for everyone who wants to:
- Keep family disagreements from escalating
- Avoid unnecessary taxes
- Preserve family privacy during a difficult time
Will vs. Living Trust: Which Estate Planning Option Is Right for Cherry Hill Parents?
When planning your estate, you face an important choice:
- Should you create a will or a living trust?
A will is a basic document that names who gets your assets after you die and who should care for minor children. It's better than nothing, but a will requires probate. This means:
- Your family must go to the Camden County Surrogate's Court.
- The process takes time.
- There is a court fee, attorney’s fee, and other expenses.
- All details become public record, anyone can see what you owned and who got it.
- A judge makes final decisions about your estate.
A living trust offers much more protection and control. With a trust:
- Your family avoids the probate process completely.
- Assets transfer quickly and privately.
- You control exactly when and how heirs receive funds.
- You can protect heirs from poor spending habits.
- You maintain control even if you become incapacitated.
For example, think about your 18-year-old receiving lots of money. For most young adults, this is like winning the lottery.
Studies show 70% of people who receive sudden wealth spend it all within two to three years. A properly structured trust can instead provide for education, a down payment on a home, or regular income that truly supports their future.
Ready to protect your family's future? Contact our estate planning lawyer in Cherry Hill Township, NJ, for a consultation.
How Our Cherry Hill Estate Planning Attorney Can Help You Prepare a Sound Estate Plan
We've refined our estate planning process over 30 years to make it thorough yet comfortable for our clients. Here's what you can expect:
First, our Cherry Hill estate planning attorney sits down with you to understand your family situation. Do you have children from multiple marriages? Own a small business? Care for an aging parent? These details shape your plan.
Next, we help you create the right legal documents depending on your situation, such as:
- Will: A will distributes your wealth and names personal representatives. We include special provisions that address your family's unique situation.
- A living trust: A living trust helps avoid the probate process and provides detailed asset management. We structure your trust to protect beneficiaries according to your wishes. We can also handle the critical step of properly funding your trust.
- Power of attorney: Power of attorney lets someone handle your finances if you can't.
- Living will or health care directive: A living will spells out your medical wishes. We create living wills that work in emergency rooms.
- HIPAA Authorizations: HIPAA authorizations allow doctors to share information with your family.
As your attorneys, we don't just fill in blanks on templates. We anticipate issues specific to your family. We make sure your executor isn't stuck paying unnecessary taxes. We ensure your health care directive works with local hospitals. We also help you properly fund your trust.
Let our estate planning lawyer in Cherry Hill Township, NJ, provide you with peace of mind. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
Why Trust Cohler Law Firm to Prepare Your Estate Plan
When choosing an estate planning attorney, experience matters. With over 30 years of experience, our firm transforms uncertainty into security for Cherry Hill families.
Our Philosophy: Simplifying the Complex
At Cohler Law, we break down complex legal concepts into plain English. We explain everything clearly, answer all your questions, and never rush you through decisions about your family's future.
Tailored Solutions for Unique Family Needs
No two Cherry Hill families are identical. A single-document approach doesn't work. We take time to understand your specific situation:
- Blended families need special provisions to protect children from previous marriages.
- Business owners need succession planning alongside personal estate documents.
- Parents of young children need comprehensive guardianship provisions.
- Homeowners need proper real estate planning to avoid transfer complications.
Our experience helps you navigate these complex situations while saving money and hassle.
Commitment to Client Convenience
We know Cherry Hill residents are busy. That's why we offer:
- Evening appointments
- Video consultations when you can't come to our office
- Regular review meetings as your life changes
Listen to what New Jerseyites have to say about us:
If you are looking for an efficient, professional, and knowledgeable law firm, look no further than Cohler Law Group. Adam Cohler is friendly and professional, as well as so patient when explaining details of your documents or situation. I cannot say enough about him and his group. They made updating our Wills an easy process, and we are so appreciative of the assistance we received. Thank you, Cohler Law Firm, for being the best! - Patricia Williams
Discuss your situation with us today. Our commitment is replacing uncertainty with security to provide our clients peace of mind.
Contact Our Cherry Hill Estate Planning Attorney at Cohler Law Today for an Initial Consultation
Dying without an estate plan in New Jersey means the courts decide your family's future. Your spouse might not receive what you want. Your children could get money before they're ready to manage it.
Don't let the state make these crucial decisions for your family.
For help from an estate planning attorney in Cherry Hill Township, contact Cohler Law Firm online or call 856-644-1969 today.
