Jersey City · NJ · Vetted Directory

Planning Your Estate? Wills & Trusts Lawyers in Jersey City

You want a will, a trust, or a plan that takes care of your family and spares them a mess later. Estate planning is not just for the wealthy: it decides who raises your kids, who makes medical and money decisions if you cannot, and who inherits what without a fight. Below are vetted Jersey City firms that draft wills and trusts, set up powers of attorney and health care directives, and guide families through Hudson County probate.

$800-$2,500
Typical will package (flat)
No
NJ estate tax (repealed 2018)
Hudson Co.
Surrogate's Court for probate
Inheritance
NJ tax on some beneficiaries

Updated April 12, 2026

When you need a Jersey City estate planning lawyer

Estate planning is how you decide, in advance, what happens to your money, your home, and your family if you die or become unable to manage your own affairs. The core documents are a will, a durable power of attorney for finances, and an advance health care directive for medical decisions. Parents of young children add a guardian designation. For larger or more complicated estates, a revocable living trust can keep things private and skip probate. A Jersey City estate lawyer matches the plan to your actual life rather than handing you a form.

People often put this off because it feels grim or far away. The cost of waiting is real: without a will, New Jersey's intestacy law decides who inherits and a judge appoints who handles your estate, and your family deals with extra time, expense, and sometimes conflict. A short planning session now saves them a lot later.

Talk to a Jersey City estate planning lawyer if any of the following fits your situation.

  • You have children and need to name a guardian and set up their inheritance.
  • You own a home, savings, or a business and want to control who gets what.
  • You do not have a will, or your will is years out of date.
  • You want to avoid probate or keep your estate private with a trust.
  • You need a power of attorney and health care directive in case you are incapacitated.
  • A parent or spouse died and you need help with probate or administration.
  • You have a blended family, a special-needs child, or out-of-state property.
  • You are worried about the New Jersey inheritance tax on certain beneficiaries.

How estate planning works in Jersey City

Step 1 is a conversation about your family, your assets, and your wishes, including who should make decisions if you cannot. Step 2 is the lawyer drafting the documents: typically a will, a financial power of attorney, and a health care directive, plus a trust if your situation calls for one. Step 3 is signing, which in New Jersey requires witnesses, and notarizing a self-proving affidavit so the will is easier to admit later. Most plans are done in two or three meetings over a few weeks. When someone dies, the named executor probates the will at the Hudson County Surrogate's Court and the estate is administered from there. An estate lawyer can handle that side too.

What this typically costs in Jersey City

$800-$2,500
Will package (flat)
$2,500-$5,000+
Living trust package
$300-$500
Typical hourly rate
Varies
Probate administration

Most Jersey City estate lawyers offer flat fees for planning. A basic package with a will, a financial power of attorney, and a health care directive commonly runs $800 to $2,500. A revocable living trust package runs about $2,500 to $5,000 or more depending on your assets and family. Probate and estate administration are sometimes hourly and sometimes a percentage, so ask how it is billed. Hourly rates for estate attorneys here generally fall between $300 and $500. Get the flat fee and what it includes in writing.

What is specific about estate planning in New Jersey and Jersey City

  • No state estate tax. New Jersey repealed its estate tax effective January 1, 2018, so most estates no longer face a state estate tax.
  • Inheritance tax still exists. New Jersey's inheritance tax does not apply to spouses, children, grandchildren, or parents, but can apply to siblings, friends, and more distant beneficiaries, which good planning can reduce.
  • Probate at the Hudson County Surrogate. Wills in Jersey City are probated through the Hudson County Surrogate's Court, which issues the letters that let an executor act.
  • Witnessing and self-proving wills. New Jersey wills need witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit notarized at signing makes the will much easier to admit to probate.
  • Powers of attorney matter as much as the will. A durable financial power of attorney and a health care directive cover what happens while you are alive but unable to act, which a will does not.

Jersey City firms that handle estate planning and probate

Updated April 12, 2026. Verified across Justia, FindLaw, Lawyers.com, and firm records. We do not accept payment for placement. Where a firm's aggregate client rating is not yet compiled, we say so rather than invent one.

1

Law Offices of Patel & Cardenas

Wills, trusts & probateJersey CityFree probate consults

A Jersey City firm where partner Lazaro Cardenas, a Rutgers Law graduate admitted in New Jersey, helps clients prepare wills, living wills, and trusts and supports executors through probate. A strong fit for families that want planning and, when the time comes, help administering an estate.

Free ConsultationWillsTrustsProbate
Request Free Consult
2

Cullen and Dykman LLP

Trusts & estatesJersey City / NJLarge firm

A long-established regional firm whose New Jersey trusts and estates practice, chaired locally by Paul Ambrose, handles both simple and complex estate planning. A fit for clients with substantial or complicated estates who want depth and a full-service firm behind the plan.

Free ConsultationEstate PlanningTrustsTax Planning
Request Free Consult
3

Carolann M. Aschoff, P.C.

Estate planningJersey CityTop-rated locally

A Jersey City attorney recognized among the area's top estate planning lawyers, focused on wills, trusts, and the personal planning documents families need. A fit for individuals and couples who want attentive, one-on-one estate planning rather than a large-firm experience.

Free ConsultationWillsTrustsDirectives
Request Free Consult
4

Law Office of Michael T. Willis

Estate planningJersey CityTop-rated locally

A Jersey City attorney listed among the area's top estate planning lawyers, handling wills, trusts, and related planning for local families. A solid choice for a first estate plan or an update after a marriage, a new child, or a move. Ratings not yet aggregated here; check Justia and FindLaw for current reviews.

Free ConsultationEstate PlanningWillsPowers of Attorney
Request Free Consult

Talk to a Jersey City estate planning lawyer — free.

Tell us briefly what you want to put in place. We route a confidential request to a best-fit Jersey City firm in this directory. No obligation, and most offer a free first consultation.

Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not send confidential documents until you have signed an engagement letter.

Estate Planning in Jersey City — FAQ

How much does estate planning cost in Jersey City?
A basic will package in Jersey City, including a will, a financial power of attorney, and a health care directive, commonly runs a flat fee of $800 to $2,500. A revocable living trust package runs about $2,500 to $5,000 or more, depending on your assets and family situation. Many estate lawyers quote a flat fee once they understand what you need.
Do I need a will or a living trust in New Jersey?
Most people start with a will, a power of attorney, and a health care directive. A revocable living trust can make sense if you own property in more than one state, want to keep your estate private, or want to avoid probate. A Jersey City estate lawyer can tell you which fits your assets rather than selling you a trust you do not need.
Does New Jersey have an estate tax or inheritance tax?
New Jersey repealed its estate tax effective January 1, 2018, so there is no longer a state estate tax. New Jersey still has an inheritance tax, but it does not apply to transfers to a spouse, children, grandchildren, or parents. It can apply to siblings, friends, and more distant beneficiaries, which a Jersey City estate lawyer can plan around.
Where is probate handled in Jersey City?
Probate in Jersey City is handled by the Hudson County Surrogate's Court. After a death, the named executor usually probates the will there, and the Surrogate issues letters testamentary that let the executor act. An estate lawyer can handle the filing and guide the executor through the process.
What happens if I die without a will in New Jersey?
If you die without a will, New Jersey's intestacy law decides who inherits, generally your spouse and children first, then more distant relatives. The court also appoints an administrator, and the result may not match what you wanted. A simple will avoids that and lets you name who raises your children and who handles your estate.
What documents should a basic estate plan include?
A solid basic plan in New Jersey includes a last will and testament, a durable financial power of attorney so someone can manage money if you cannot, and an advance health care directive (living will) naming who makes medical decisions. Parents of minor children should also name a guardian. A trust is added when your situation calls for it.

Related on LawFirmSquare