Best Lawyers in New Jersey, United States for Trusts and Estates
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Allan C. Bell is Chair of the Trusts and Estates Practice Group. Mr. Bell practices primarily in tax planning for individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, estates and trusts. He brings his innovative, in-depth tax planning experience as well as the ability to analyze, explain and implement sophisticated techniques to his clients. His insight into the government’s interpretations and views on issues allows him to provide efficient and thorough services and work product without t...
Steven K. Mignogna is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Steven K., who practices law in Voorhees, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Elliot I. Kramer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Elliot I., who practices law in Madison, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elliot I. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Patricia K. Haddad is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Patricia K., who practices law in Springfield, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patricia K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Member Stephen J. Oppenheim counsels and assists his clients with estate and tax planning, estate and trust administration, and the related areas of estate, trust and tax law. He has been engaged in the private practice of law for more than forty-five years. Mr. Oppenheim has been selected by his New Jersey peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America and New Jersey Super Lawyers. Mr. Oppenheim and his wife, Judie, have lived in Rumson for more than twenty-five years. They have three childr...
Heidi I. Hansen is a member with the firm’s Trusts & Estates and Tax Groups whose practice focuses on complex estate planning, gift tax planning and estate administration matters. She assists individuals, businesses and estates with tax audits and in the United States Tax Court; collaborates frequently with white collar defense attorneys in defending criminal tax matters; and helps form, and advises, nonprofit organizations. Heidi began her legal career in private practice before jo...
Jodi Friend is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Jodi, who practices law in Morristown, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jodi is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mr. Feinberg's practice focuses on estate planning, estate administration, elder law, wills and trusts, tax and business planning for individuals, corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, and tax controversies. Mr. Feinberg serves as a strategic advisor to individuals, families, business owners, executors and trustees, counseling clients on a comprehensive range of issues within the areas of tax, trust and estate law. His work encompasses the structuring of wealth preservat...
Steven A. Loeb is a member with the firm’s Corporate & Securities, Tax, and Trusts & Estates Groups. Bringing more than 15 years of experience and a keen understanding of the ever-evolving tax environment, he is a seasoned advisor in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, estate litigation, charitable planning, marital planning, and nonprofit formation and counseling. In addition, Steven is adept at addressing the needs of his individual and corporate clients on ma...
Martin L. Lepelstat focuses his practice on tax and trusts and estate planning. He represents individuals, businesses, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, and special types of entities in connection with strategic planning, structuring and defense of tax transactions. Martin frequently represents clients at both the federal and state levels in tax related matters, including tax audits and appeals. As a skilled practitioner in the tax controversy area, he has dealt with IR...
Joseph P. Scorese is a Member of the Sills Cummis & Gross Tax, Trusts and Estates Practice Group. Mr. Scorese’s primary area of practice is complex estate planning and estate and trust administration for high net worth individuals and families. Mr. Scorese counsels clients in the New York and New Jersey area and helps them design and realize both appropriate and realistic estate planning goals.
James K. Estabrook is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Trusts and Estates. James K., who practices law in New Providence, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Bruce E. Goldman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Bruce E., who practices law in Madison, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bruce E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michelle Bergeron Spell focuses her practice on estate planning, succession planning and trust and estate administration for domestic and foreign individuals. She has extensive experience in multi-generational estate planning and asset protection. Michelle's clients include high net worth individuals and families for whom she handles such matters as wills, grantor retained interest trusts, generation-skipping trusts, family limited partnerships and living trusts. Michelle has extensive experi...
David J. Ritter, Jr. focuses his practice in the following areas: estate planning, estate administration, corporate organization, corporate transactions, commercial loans, and healthcare. David is knowledgeable in preparing wills, revocable trusts, living wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare agent designations. He advises clients on the many ways to structure these documents, including creating trusts to hold assets for the benefit of children or loved ones, and establishing an estate pl...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.