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  • Mar 25, 2019Shana Siegel to Speak at Montclair Library

    Shana Siegel, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Chair of its Elder Care and Special Needs Law Practice Group, will present “The Legal and Planning Issues Older Adults Need to Consider,” Monday, April 1, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., at the Montclair Public Library. The presentation, sponsored by AARP, will focus on planning for older adults. Topics will include health care decision making, estate planning goals, long-term care, power of attorney, and more. The event is open to the public and no registration is needed.

    Siegel concentrates her practice in the area of elder law, focusing on representing seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in connection with life care planning, public benefits, trust and estate planning, and long-term care advocacy. As one of the few Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in northern New Jersey to be certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), Shana has extensive experience in probate and estate administration, asset preservation, supplemental and special needs trusts, planning for disability, guardianship and estate litigation, resident rights, health care decision making, Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance appeals.

    Prior to joining Norris McLaughlin, Shana was with WanderPolo & Siegel for over 10 years, five of which were as principal.  She has been involved in health and long-term care issues for over 25 years. She is a past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), where she regularly met with legislators and government officials on behalf of the elder law bar and its clients. In 2015, she was invited to join NAELA’s prestigious Council of Advanced Practitioners (CAP).

    Siegel earned her J.D. from Georgetown University, honors, in 1994 and her B.A. from Barnard College, honors, in 1989. She is a member of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, the State Bar Elder Law Section, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, and the Bergen and Essex County Bar Associations.

    Posted in: Elder Care & Special Needs Law, News, Shana Siegel | Tags: , , , , , , ,

  • Feb 08, 2019Dean Roberts to Present on Estates and Trusts for Co-op Shareholders

    Dean M. Roberts, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., will present “Estate Planning and Trust Ownership” to shareholders of Morningside Heights Housing Corporation. The closed presentation will take place Saturday, February 9, 2 – 3:30 p.m., and again Thursday, February 28, 7 – 8:30 p.m., in New York City.

    Roberts will discuss how estates are handled in the state of New York, what shareholders can do to create a more seamless process to protect their assets, and the new forms and uses of trust now available to shareholders of Morningside Gardens. Throughout the presentation, Roberts will answer questions from attendees.

    Roberts focuses on real estate litigation with a sub-specialty in the representation of cooperative housing corporations and condominiums.  He has handled all facets of condominium and cooperative ownership from sponsor/purchase and conversion to representing well-established tenant-shareholder Boards of Directors.  Roberts also represents cooperative corporations and moderate-income co-ops in all areas of litigation, including landlord/tenant litigation.

    Through his involvement with the Coordinating Council of Cooperatives, Roberts is active in court reform efforts and the cooperative movement.  In his community, he works to promote affordable housing as a director of the Cooperative Development Fund Board of Advisors and other housing programs.

    Roberts earned his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 1987 and his B.A. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers College, in 1982.

    Posted in: Cooperative ("Co-op") and Condominium Law, Dean M. Roberts, News | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

  • Nov 07, 2018James J. Costello, Jr. to Present on Using Trusts in Estate Planning and Asset Protection

    James J. Costello, Jr., a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Co-Chair of its Trust, Estate and Individual Tax Group, will be a featured speaker at “Using Trusts in Estate Planning and Asset Protection,” sponsored by The National Business Institute (NBI).  The seminar will take place at the Courtyard Princeton on Thursday, November 15, and Friday, November 16, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

    The seminar will address the effective use of trusts in estate planning and asset protection. Presenters will explore a variety of planning tools that will help tailor a trust that fits the client’s specific situation. CLE, CPE, IACET, and PACE credits are available. For more information or to register, please visit the NBI’s web site here.

    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 co-habitation 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.  His representation of fiduciaries covers 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. and 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 and his M.L.T. from Georgetown University Law Center.

    Posted in: Estate Planning & Administration, James J. Costello, News | Tags: , , , , , , ,

  • Oct 19, 2018Using Trusts in Estate Planning and Asset Protection

    James J. Costello, Jr. will be a presenter at the seminar “Using Trusts in Estate Planning and Asset Protection.” The 2 day seminar is sponsored by the National Business Institute and will take place on Thursday, November 15 and Friday, November 16 from from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Courtyard Princeton. CLE and CPE credits are available.

    The seminar will guide attendees through how to effectively use trusts for estate planning and asset protection. Attendees will explore a variety of planning tools that will help them tailor a trust that fits their client’s specific situation.

    • Find out how to select the best trust option for each unique situation.
    • Protect retirement accounts with the use of IRA trusts.
    • Use trusts to help clients qualify for Medicaid while protecting their assets.
    • Discover ways to structure special needs trusts so beneficiaries still qualify for public benefits.
    • Learn how to minimize client’s tax burdens with the use of defective trusts.
    • Properly handle the administration of a trust.
    • Clarify who the client is to avoid conflicts of interest and other ethical violations.

    The basic to intermediate level seminar is designed for professionals involved in structuring and administering trusts:

    • Attorneys
    • CPAs and Accountants
    • Trust Officers
    • Tax Managers
    • Wealth Managers
    • Paralegals

    To register, please click here.

    Posted in: Events | Tags: , , , , ,

  • Jul 11, 2018Jill Lebowitz to Present at NJICLE Estate Planning Summer Institute

    Jill Lebowitz, a Member of the law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., will present “Digging Deeper into the New Jersey Inheritance Tax” for the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Education (NJICLE) Estate Planning Summer Institute. The two-day program, co-sponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Association Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law Section, will be held on Thursday, July 19, and Friday, July 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick.  The Institute offers 13.4 CLE credits and is also available as a live webcast.  For more information and to register, visit njsba.com or call NJICLE at 732-214-8500.

    Lebowitz devotes her practice to estate planning, trust and estate administration, and counseling tax-exempt organizations.  She is experienced in drafting sophisticated estate planning instruments and counseling individuals and families regarding estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax issues.  Lebowitz advises clients on the development of both simple and complex estate plans, philanthropic planning and business succession issues.  She drafts estate planning instruments including wills, revocable living trusts, insurance trusts, dynasty trusts, charitable trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, shareholders agreements, limited liability company operating agreements, durable powers of attorney, and advance directives for health care.

    In addition, Lebowitz handles all aspects of trust and estate administration, as well as fiduciary litigation and guardianship matters.  She prepares federal and state estate and inheritance tax returns and federal gift tax returns.  She is knowledgeable in drafting disclaimers and agreements regarding post-mortem planning, informal distribution agreements, judicial fiduciary accountings, and handling court proceedings to effect final distribution of estates and trusts.  She also counsels individuals and financial institutions regarding their fiduciary duties as personal representatives and trustees, including advising on legal and tax issues, as well as issues in connection with administering trusts.  She also assists individuals, families, and fiduciaries with all aspects of fiduciary litigation.

    Lebowitz regularly advises tax-exempt organizations regarding federal tax exemption issues, state charitable registration filings, and governance issues.  On behalf of tax-exempt organizations, she drafts nonprofit corporation documents and prepares federal applications for tax-exempt status, state charitable registration filings, and state property tax and sales tax exemption applications.  She has extensive experience advising individuals, family and corporate foundations, and tax-exempt organizations on nonprofit corporate governance, private foundation excise taxes, domestic and international grant-making, executive compensation, excess benefit rules and intermediate sanctions, unrelated business income, scholarship programs, and fundraising issues.

    Lebowitz is a Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), a national organization of approximately 2,500 lawyers elected to membership by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence, and experience as trust and estate counselors.  She has also been selected for inclusion on the list of New Jersey Super Lawyers in the Estate & Probate section.

    Lebowitz is the Immediate Past Chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section and continues to serve on the Section’s Board of Consultors.  She is also the Immediate Past President of the Greater Middlesex/Somerset Estate Planning Council and she continues to serve on its Board of Trustees.

    Lebowitz earned her LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law, her J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law—Newark, and her B.A. from New York University.

    Posted in: Estate Planning & Administration, Jill Lebowitz, News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

  • Jul 09, 2018Jill Lebowitz Elected Fellow of American College of Trust and Estate Counsel

    Jill Lebowitz, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., has been elected as a Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).  ACTEC is a national organization of approximately 2,500 lawyers elected to membership by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence, and experience as trust and estate counselors.  Fellows are peer-elected based on specific criteria, including having extensive experience in the practice of estate planning, trust and estate administration and probate law, an outstanding reputation, exceptional skill, and substantial contributions to the field through writing, teaching and bar association leadership activities.  ACTEC Fellows work locally and nationally to improve and reform estate, trust, and tax laws, procedures, and professional responsibility.

    Lebowitz devotes her practice to estate planning, trust and estate administration, and counseling tax-exempt organizations.  She is experienced in drafting sophisticated estate planning instruments and counseling individuals and families regarding estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax issues.  Lebowitz advises clients on the development of complex estate plans, philanthropic planning, and business succession issues.  She drafts estate planning instruments, including wills, revocable living trusts, insurance trusts, dynasty trusts, charitable trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, shareholders agreements, limited liability company operating agreements, durable powers of attorney, and advance directives for health care.

    In addition, Lebowitz handles all aspects of trust and estate administration, as well as fiduciary litigation and guardianship matters.  She prepares federal and state estate and inheritance tax returns and federal gift tax returns.  She is knowledgeable in drafting disclaimers and agreements regarding post-mortem planning, informal distribution agreements, judicial fiduciary accountings, and handling court proceedings to effect final distribution of estates and trusts.  Lebowitz also counsels individuals and financial institutions regarding their fiduciary duties as personal representatives and trustees, including advising on legal and tax issues, as well as issues in connection with administering trusts.  She also assists individuals, families, and fiduciaries with all aspects of fiduciary litigation.

    Lebowitz regularly advises tax-exempt organizations regarding federal tax exemption issues, state charitable registration filings, and governance issues.  On behalf of tax-exempt organizations, she drafts nonprofit corporation documents and prepares federal applications for tax-exempt status, state charitable registration filings, and state property tax and sales tax exemption applications.  She has extensive experience advising individuals, family and corporate foundations, and tax-exempt organizations on nonprofit corporate governance, private foundation excise taxes, domestic and international grant-making, executive compensation, excess benefit rules and intermediate sanctions, unrelated business income, scholarship programs, and fundraising issues.

    Lebowitz is the Immediate Past Chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section and continues to serve on the Section’s Board of Consultors.  She is also the Immediate Past President of the Greater Middlesex/Somerset Estate Planning Council and she continues to serve on its Board of Trustees.

    Lebowitz has also been selected for inclusion on the list of New Jersey Super Lawyers in the Estate & Probate section.

    Lebowitz earned her LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law, her J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law—Newark, and her B.A. from New York University.

    Posted in: Estate Planning & Administration, Jill Lebowitz, News | Tags: , , , ,

  • Jan 11, 2018Norris McLaughlin, P.A. Welcomes Michelle M. Forsell, Esq.

    Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is pleased to welcome Michelle M. Forsell, formerly of Tomlinson Forsell, as Of Counsel in the firm’s Estate Planning & Administration Group.

    “As the chapter of Tomlinson Forsell comes to a close with the retirements of Allen and Barry Tomlinson, I am pleased to be joining Norris McLaughlin, P.A., where I can offer a deeper and wider bench here in East Greenville.  Our clients can expect the same faces and receive the same services to which they have grown accustomed,” said Forsell.

    A lifelong resident of Pennsburg, Montgomery County, Forsell focuses her practice primarily on estate planning and administration.  The former Solicitor to the Borough of East Greenville, she is the immediate past president of the Bar Association of Lehigh County, an American Bar Association Fellow, Program Chair for the Villanova Law Inn of Court, and a Montgomery County Arbitrator.  She is active in her community, serving on numerous boards including Frederick Living, a Mennonite Health Services not-for-profit continuing care retirement community; The Gulack Foundation; and the Upper Perkiomen YMCA.  Forsell also teaches law courses at Cedar Crest College in Allentown.  She will continue her practice in her current office location in East Greenville, Pennsylvania, formerly the offices of Tomlinson Forsell.

    “Michelle’s practice will complement and expand the Estate Planning & Administration practice we have in our office in Allentown and has the community focus that we value at NMM,” said Matthew R. Sorrentino, Chairman of Norris McLaughlin, P.A..

    Forsell earned her B.A. from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 1999, her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in 2003, and her M.A. from Temple University in 2006.  She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania; the U.S. District Court, Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania; the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals; and the U.S. Supreme Court.

    Posted in: Estate Planning & Administration, Michelle M. Forsell, Municipal Law, News | Tags: , ,

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