In re Estate of Kremer, 2024 WL 4964639 (N.J. Super. Dec. 4, 2024) This case deals with revocation of wills and related points. Bonnie Levine executed a will in 1992.  The will named Bonnie’s sisters, Pamela McGinnis and Patrice Berman, as executrix and contingent executrix, respectively. In 1997, Bonnie married Joseph Kremer. The couple had […]

Mooney v. Convery, Nos. A-1576-22, A-1577-22 (N.J. Super. App. Div. Nov. 13, 2024) This case came before the Appellate Division after the trial court awarded attorney fees but directed payment only after the defendant fully satisfied the judgment, rather than from a fund in court under Rule 4:42-9(a)(2). John J. Mooney passed away on June […]

Nolasco v. Estate of Nolasco, Docket No. A-3176-22, 2024 WL 4563243 (N.J. Super. App. Div. Oct. 24, 2024)   This matter concerns a quiet title claim brought against the estate (“Estate”) of Otilio Nolasco (“Otilio” or “decedent”) by plaintiff Jose Nolasco (“Jose”) concerning real estate in North Plainfield, New Jersey. The Estate appealed two orders: […]

Ventre v. Balsamo, 2024 WL 4749519, (N.J. Super. App. Div. Nov. 12, 2024) This matter came before the Appellate Division because the trial court found the plaintiff’s legal malpractice against claim against Arthur Balsamo, Esquire (“Attorney”) barred under the entire controversy doctrine and the doctrine of collateral estoppel.  The Appellate Division affirmed the Law Division’s […]

In re Estate of R.S., No. A-3452-22 (N.J. Super. App. Div. Oct. 31, 2024) The defendant appealed an Order appointing the plaintiff as the administrator of the decedent’s estate.  The Appellate Division reversed and remanded. The defendant was adopted by the decedent and his spouse from Russia shortly after he was born in 1993.  The […]

In re Estate of Kenneth C. Haugh, 2024 WL 4664488 (Pa. Super. Nov. 4, 2024) This matter came before the Superior Court on appeal from the Orphans’ Court granting declaratory judgment in favor of Deborah Haugh, wife of testator Kenneth Haugh, after she died in October 2022.  The primary issues decided on appeal were whether […]

Geswaldo v. Geswaldo, 2024 WL 4615590, No. A-3540-21 (N.J. Super. App. Div. Oct. 30, 2024) Christine and Rachel Geswaldo (the “sisters”) appealed a decision in favor of their sister-in-law, Joan Geswaldo, regarding a dispute over a family trust and real estate partnership. In 1991, Joseph, the siblings’ father, set up a trust to hold two […]

Krivulka v. Lerner, No. 2:20-CV-09724, 2024 WL 4318735 (D.N.J. Sept. 27, 2024) This is one in a series of decisions stemming from a legal malpractice action for estate planning. The defendants/lawyers had acted as counsel for the decedent, Joseph Krivulka, and his wife, plaintiff Angela Krivulka, for estate planning and other purposes. The plaintiff alleged […]

In re Tr. B Under Agreement of Richard H. Wells Dated September 28, 1956, 311 A.3d 1057 (Pa. 2024) In September 1956, Richard H. Wells (“Wells”), President of First Seneca Bank and Trust Company (“First Seneca”), established the Richard H. Wells Revocable Trust Agreement (the “Trust”), naming First Seneca as corporate trustee. Prior to his […]

Application of Follman, 81 Misc.3d 275(N.Y. App. Div. 2023) Ahron Follman (“Petitioner”) is the son of Esther Follman and Lazar Follman (“Decedent”).  Decedent died in 2018 and his wife, Esther, died in 2021.  In 1996 and 2011, Decedent and his wife created trusts in which their children and issue were treated almost equally.  Those trusts […]