Peggy and David Rockefeller’s artworks and treasures set a new world record topping $800 million as the priciest ever single-owner collection.  Peggy Rockefeller died in 1996, and David in 2017, as the last surviving grandson of the oil baron John D. Rockefeller.  The couple’s son, David Rockefeller Jr., said auction proceeds would go to charity. […]

On March 1, 2018, a district court judge appointed an experienced accountant to tally the assets of the estate of Stephen Paddock, the gunman of the Las Vegas mass shooting. Paddock’s mother became his sole heir by default, since he had no will, was not married and had no children. At the mother’s request, Paddock’s […]

On February 27, 2018, an Alabama court unsealed Harper Lee’s Will on the basis of a lawsuit filed by The New York Times seeking to review the document. The Times argued that wills filed in a probate court in Alabama are typically public records, and that Ms. Lee’s privacy concerns were no different from those […]

Steven K. Mignogna, a Partner in the firm’s Haddonfield office, lectured at the 52nd Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, in Orlando, Florida, on January 25, 2018. Mr. Mignogna served on a panel of experts discussing “Ethics and Negotiations,” which addressed the ethical and strategic implications in negotiating with counsel, clients and advisors.

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 […]