In the Matter of the Estate of Kaczmarek, No. A-1356-17T3, 2018 WL 6186536 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Nov. 28, 2018). Defendant appealed summary judgment admitting the last will of Theodore A. Kaczmarek, deceased (“the decedent”) to probate. The trial court also directed the issuance of letters testamentary to the plaintiffs, as co-executrices, and dismissed […]

In the Matter of the Estate of Cordasco, No. A-4981-16T3, 2018 WL 6186306 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Nov. 28, 2018). The decedent died intestate. His son  sought appointment as administrator of the estate and an order to invalidate the inter vivos transfer of a condominium to his sister, the decedent’s daughter. Id. at *2.  […]

Steven K. Mignogna, a Partner in the firm’s Haddonfield office, has been named to the Advisory Committee of the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning. As a board member, Mr. Mignogna will help to implement the goals of the Institute. With over 3,000 attendees, the Heckerling Institute is the leading conference in the United States for […]

This action to quiet title sought to set aside deeds on various grounds. The real estate at issue was located in Jersey City, New Jersey.  The deeds involved a decedent who was a resident of Kings County, New York, at death, and so the estate was the subject of probate in Kings County, New York. […]

Cohen v. Perelman, et al., Nos. A-3275-14T4 and A-3286-14T4, 2018 WL 6034978 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Nov. 19, 2018). This decision is the latest in a series involving the same family dispute. This ruling involved an appeal of the trial court’s finding that the decedent’s July 2009 will was valid and enforceable.  The appeals […]

In the Matter of the Estate of Jones, No. A-2557-16T2, 2018 WL 4471686 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Sept. 19, 2018).  The Appellate Division addressed the difference between joint accounts and convenience accounts, and the standard for undue influence claims in the context of joint accounts. Erna M. Jones (“decedent”) was married to Walter R. […]

In the Matter of the Estate of Castellano, No. A-0165-17T3, 2018 WL 5810264 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. Nov. 7, 2018).  Approved for publication. While the facts of this case are complex, the issue was whether the only child (“Child”) of an intestate decedent (the “decedent”) could be cut off from inheritance through an “equitable […]

Steven K. Mignogna, Esq., Anthony R. La Ratta, Esq., and Melissa Osorio Dibble, Esq. Will Present “Hot Trends in Estate Litigation” for the Camden County Bar Association on Tuesday, December 4, 2018. The 17th Annual Forum on Hot Trends in Estate Litigation will have speakers lead a discussion of current decisions affecting estate litigation at […]

Steven K. Mignogna, Esq. and Melissa Osorio Dibble, Esq. to Present “Fiduciary Litigation Update” for the Greater Middlesex/Somerset County Estate Planning Council on Thursday, November 29, 2018 at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club from 6:00pm – 8:30pm. To register, click here.

Collateral estoppel and related concepts were deemed to bar the probate of a codicil. John F. Piazza (“decedent”) and his wife, Elly Piazza, had three children: Barbara, John H., and Debra. In February 1992, the decedent and his wife prepared joint and reciprocal wills. Barbara claimed that in 2007, the decedent executed a codicil to […]