James Costello to Present on Probate and Trust Litigation

James J. Costello, Jr., a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Co-Chair of its Trusts, Estates & Tax Law Practice Group, will be featured speakers at “Probate and Trust Litigation: Real-World Insights for Both Estate Litigators and Planners,” sponsored by The National Business Institute (NBI), on Tuesday, July 9, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., at the Courtyard Princeton.

The seminar will address practical ways to deal with common controversies. Presenters will explore a variety of ways to improve and build skills in handling will contest and trust fights, removing a fiduciary, handling disputes with accountings, settling disputes effectively, and learning to avoid conflicts of interest. New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania CLE credits are available. For more information or to register, please visit the NBI’s website at www.nbi-sems.com.

Costello focuses his practice on estate planning and administration, litigation and disputes among beneficiaries, general federal and state tax law and controversies, and the formation, dissolution, purchase, sale, and mergers of all types of closely-held business entities.

Costello represents individuals in all aspects of general and sophisticated estate planning, including drafting wills, lifetime and testamentary trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, prenuptial agreements, and cohabitation agreements, employing sophisticated strategies when warranted matters include family limited liability companies (“LLCs”), sales to intentionally defective grantor trusts, spousal lifetime access trusts (“SLATS”), dynasty trusts and charitable trusts.  He represents fiduciaries in all aspects of estate and trust administration, including preparation and filing of federal and state estate and income tax returns; representation in IRS and New Jersey Division of Taxation audits; litigation and disputes among beneficiaries; preparation and filing of federal and state estate and inheritance tax returns; and defending those returns on audit.

Costello has published articles and lectured extensively to civic and professional groups on estate planning, elder law, and tax law topics.  He is a former Trustee and Advisory Board Council member of Alzheimer's New Jersey (formerly known as the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association), and a former Trustee and Secretary of the Bernardsville Library Foundation, Inc.  He currently serves on the Vestry of the Church of St. John on the Mountain in Bernardsville. Costello earned his J.D. from Western New England College School of Law, his M.L.T. from Georgetown University Law Center, and his B.S., cum laude, from the University of Bridgeport.

Costello is an authors for the firm’s New Jersey beneficiary rights law blog, Guardians of Your Will.