Understanding Undue Influence

  What constitutes undue influence in an estate plan? What are some of the reasons why beneficiaries might challenge an estate plan over undue influence? How do different states handle claims of undue influence? Read on for answers from attorneys...

Article

Understanding The Services Notaries Provide

State governments appoint notaries to act as impartial witnesses to the signing of important documents, essentially guarding against fraud by verifying identity. Though notaries do not provide legal guidance on the contents of documents, they do confirm that signers are...

Article

Summing Up: ERISA Litigation

  Law experts explain the uptick of class action suits alleging mismanagement of retirement plans by fiduciaries. Although courts have dismissed a few of the cases, most of the motions to dismiss have been denied. Having a relatively small plan...

Article

Warning Signs: Contribution Fraud?

  Though not a widespread issue, employers who delay or fail to make the appropriate contributions to the retirement plan are a concern for all. Accordingly, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued a list of warning signs in an...

Article

Executor Duties: Debts Before Distributions

Typically, executing a will is associated with distributing the assets of the deceased to beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the will. Although this is one of the important functions of the executor, assets cannot be distributed until debts...

Article

Injunctions and Injunction Bonds Explained

Injunctions and Injunction Bonds Explained What happens when a civil case involving preservation of a park is underway in court but the development company is about to start clearing trees? The court could issue an injunction order. Here’s how injunctions—and...

Article

No Caps on Appeal Bonds Can Have Unintended Consequences

When you wish to appeal a civil judgment in New Jersey, in order to stay enforcement of that judgment, you have to post an appeal bond. But in order to post an appeal bond, your bond has to cover the entire...

Article

The New Jersey Estate & Inheritance Taxes

For anyone who dies after January 1, 2018, their estates will not be subject to a New Jersey state estate tax. New Jersey residents, however, are still subject to the federal estate tax as well as the New Jersey inheritance...

Article

Options for Appealing in California

When you are faced with a civil judgment against you in California, you have a number of options to fight that judgment. Appeals are the best option in most cases, but there are other methods to fight the verdict against...

Article

Appeal Bonds Stop a Party From Collecting a Judgment Against You

Appealing an adverse civil judgment requires you to obtain an appeal or supersedeas bond in order to proceed and secure your right to appeal that judgment against you. But the appeal bond is not technically a requirement to appeal. The...

Article