On January 6, 2018, new policies will affect Orphans’ Court practitioners who are filing or seeking access to court documents in Pennsylvania. By prior order of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the new policy titled, “Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania:  Case Records of the Appellate and Trial Courts”(the “Policy”), limits the […]

On December 4, 2017, Steven K. Mignogna received a 2017 Distinguished Service Award from the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education at the 27th Annual Excellence in CLE Awards reception held at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick.

Steven K. Mignogna, a Partner in the firm’s Haddonfield office, served as a featured speaker for the National College of Probate Judges, at its Fall Conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on November 16, 2017. Mr. Mignogna lectured to the College on “Seven Deadly Claims” – novel claims in trust and estate litigation evolving around […]

Steven K. Mignogna, a Partner in the firm’s Haddonfield office, served as a featured speaker at the 24th Annual Estate Law Conference of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute in Philadelphia on November 14, 2017. Mr. Mignogna lectured on recent developments in New Jersey law. Mr. Mignogna focuses his practice on commercial litigation, with a concentration on […]

In a matter of first impression, the New Jersey Supreme Court recognized a cause of action for wrongful prolongation of life as the defendants resuscitated the decedent, despite her wishes set forth in orders stating:  “do not resuscitate” and “do not intubate”. To read the full article, click here.

New Jersey courts have adopted the doctrine of writings intended as wills, admitting to probate non-traditional Wills like DVDs and post-it notes.   Throughout the country there is a movement away from strict compliance to will formalities.  A recent decision out of Australia, illustrates this shift taking place throughout the world.   The Supreme Court of Queensland […]

On September 13, 2017, Governor Chris Christie signed legislation recognizing a fiduciary heir’s right to obtain control of a decedent’s digital assets.  The “Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act” authorizes an executor, agent, guardian, or trustee, under certain circumstances, to manage electronic records of decedent, principal, incapacitated person, or trust creator.

Callas v. Callas, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 127547 (D.N.J. Aug. 11, 2017). Plaintiff William Dean Callas (“William”) brought an action against his siblings, the executors of his mother’s estate, to settle a dispute over the value of their mother’s ownership in a real estate holding company in which he held a 60% interest. The Operating […]

On August 7, 2017, our State Legislature signed into law amendments to N.J.S.A. § 3B:14-18 “Discharge from office of fiduciary; account; allowances” and N.J.S.A. 3B:14-19 “Discharge from particular trust; effect”. The attached document sets forth the current version of the text as amended by the legislature.  The newly enacted language is underlined and the omitted language […]

Anthony R. La Ratta, a Partner in Archer’s Haddonfield office, has been appointed Chair of the Litigation, Ethics and Malpractice Group of the American Bar Association’s Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section. For the past two terms, he has been serving as the Vice Chair of the Group. As Chair, Mr. La Ratta has […]