I often have clients come to my office to tell me that they need a trust.  When asked what type of trust, I typically get a blank stare.  And this is nothing to be ashamed of.  Many attorneys that do not specifically practice in this area of law are also baffled.   There are many, many […]

Bratton Law Group Attorneys at Law LLC is honored to announce the firm’s partner John D. Rothamel has been named New Jersey Super Lawyers “Rising Star” for 2013 by Super Lawyers magazine. Super Lawyers magazine, published in all 50 states, recognizes the top up and coming attorneys under the age of forty each year for

The Supreme Courts pending decision on DOMA (The Defense of Marriage Act) could drastically change estate planning for the LGBT community. DOMA, passed in 1996, defines marriage under federal law as a union between a man and a woman as husband and wife. In addition, DOMA states that a “spouse” may only include a person of the opposite sex. As

Spring Clean Your Estate Plan Spring is the time of year for a fresh start and getting organized, which makes for a great time to dust off and pull out your estate planning documents. Similar to maintaining your car, your estate plan needs maintenance every few years for maximum performance. As life events happen and

Spring is in the air, which means cleaning and organizing our homes inside and out, however one way to “Spring Clean” your house this season does not include a vacuum or rake.  Spring is also a time for property tax appeal season. Many New Jersey residents have faced significant decline in their property value over

How to Properly Dispute Bank Values Much more frequently than in the past, property valuations completed by lenders are being returned with figures higher than “fair market value”. It is then the responsibility of offices like ours to submit documentation that proves that the bank-determined value is too high. The following list provides guidance on

When your child leaves for college and is over the age of 18, in your eyes, your child is your child; however, in the eyes of the law, they are legally adults.  Before he/she goes off to college, we strongly recommend three important documents that enable you to communicate with a medical team or make

We certainly rang in the New Year with some political excitement, as last-minute negotiations attempted to avert sending the nation over the so called “fiscal cliff.”  January 1, 2013, saw retroactive legislation pass the U.S. Senate, and then, of course, the House of Representatives. For the last decade we, Estate Planners, have been forced to plan

On Tuesday January 2nd, 2013, Congress approved the budget which included extending the  Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act  through December 31, 2013. Prior to 2007, if a homeowner were to “short sale” their principal residence for less than they owed on the mortgage, they would be require to pay income tax on the “forgiven” mortgage