Expertise.com
2024

Last updated:

Best Probate Lawyers in Paterson

Our Recommended Top 19

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
  • Mystery Shopping Calls

Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Paterson Probate Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

50

Reviewed

37

Curated

19

Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

200 NJ-31, Ste. 207, Flemington, NJ 08822

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Shanahan & Voigt LLC Attorneys at Law is a practice that serves clients in Paterson. It assists in the administration of the decedent's estate through the probate process. It also provides estate planning services, such as drafting wills, powers of attorney, and distributing assets to legal beneficiaries. In addition, the firm handles guardianship, real estate, business and contracts, farm law, and Medicaid planning. Partner attorney Robert J. Shanahan Jr. is the former president of the Hunterdon County Bar Association.

  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Robert Shanahan - Founding PartnerActive39 yrs

335 Passaic Avenue, Lodi, NJ 07644

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (16)
Avvo
5.0 (10)
Google
5.0 (7)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Marcel R. Wurms is a private multi-practice firm that serves the residents of Paterson and the surrounding areas. It provides probate and estate administration services, which include the filing of inheritance and estate tax returns. It also helps prepare documents such as last wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives for health care. Principal attorney Marcel Wurms has been practicing law for more than four decades. He is also a licensed real estate agent and a certified public accountant.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

125 Paterson Ave. 2nd Floor, Little Falls, NJ 07424

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (45)

Why choose this provider?

Goldberg Law Group handles elder law matters in Paterson and the surrounding communities. It provides long-term care assistance, including ensuring the implementation of healthcare wishes and protecting immediate and future financial security. It also helps seniors cover the expenses of long-term care plans through acquiring public assistance. Its team provides support in preserving legacies and passing down assets to beneficiaries. Goldberg Law Group assists in drafting estate planning documents like powers of attorney and last will.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Eric Goldberg - Managing PartnerActive15 yrs

795 Franklin Avenue Suite 206, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (11)
Facebook
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Stratton Ashtyani Law Group serves clients in Paterson. The company handles probate and estate administration matters, including asset identification and distribution, debt payments, and wills probate. The firm's attorneys, Nima Ashtyani and Nicholas Stratton, also represent clients in complex probate issues such as estate litigation, estate administration application, executor or trustee services, and executor bad faith. The two attorneys have been practicing law since 2012. They also collaborate with financial planners, accountants, realtors, and family lawyers to better meet the legal needs of their clients.

  • Trusts
  • Estate Taxes

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Nicholas Stratton - PartnerActive12 yrs

700 Godwin Avenue, Suite 330, Midland Park, NJ 07432

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (38)
Avvo
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Tarta Law provides legal advice and representation in estate planning and probate matters for clients in Paterson and the surrounding communities. Its founder, Steven Tarta, has more than 45 years of experience handling probate proceedings that include proving a will's validity, identifying the decedent's property, settling estate debts and taxes, and distributing assets according to the will. The main focus of his practice is asset preservation using revocable and irrevocable trusts while considering the nature of his clients' assets and liabilities.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

1500 Lawrence Ave. CN 7807, Ocean, NJ 07712

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Ansell Grimm & Aaron PC is a law firm that serves clients in Paterson. It handles various aspects of wills, trusts, and estates and guides clients in drafting wills and estate plans, appointing executors, paying taxes and creditors, and distributing assets. One of the firm's partners, Peter S. Falvo, Jr., has been in legal practice since 1967. He serves as a member of the Board of Consultors of the Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Elder Law

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Peter Grimm - Senior PartnerActive39 yrs

90 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (104)
Avvo
4.8 (33)
Yelp
2.3 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Giro, Attorneys at Law, is a legal office that serves the people of Paterson and the surrounding areas. It helps its clients in estate distribution and administration. It also serves family members who need assistance in probate matters, including guardianship and conservatorship duties. Its attorneys represent individuals in trust litigation, asset ownership disputes, and will contests. The firm's founder, Maurice Giro, is a bilingual attorney, who brings over 10 years of experience to his practice. He is also licensed to represent clients in New York.

301 Route 17 N. Suite 505, Rutherford, NJ 07070

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (7)
Facebook
5.0 (5)
Avvo
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Gaeta Law Firm offers legal services regarding estate planning and probate in Paterson. Its attorneys advise administrators and executors in various aspects of settling decedents' estates, including paying creditors and transferring assets. They represent clients in trust and probate disputes like inheritance conflicts, lack of validity, undue influence, fraud, and void for vagueness. Gaeta Law Firm's practice areas also cover family law, land use, and mediation. Anthony N. Gaeta represents clients in New York and New Jersey trial, chancery, and surrogate's courts.

  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Administration

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Anthony Gaeta - MemberActive23 yrs

502 Valley Road Suite 104, Wayne, NJ 07470

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Weiss, Tom & Trapanese, LLC, is a firm serving Paterson and the surrounding communities. It offers legal representation in probate litigation while considering the emotional impact that losing a loved one has on the executors and beneficiaries of wills and estates. The probate process includes filing the will in court, paying estate taxes, and locating the beneficiaries. The firm also obtains expert opinions regarding unique assets such as antiques, automobiles, and rare books.

  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Mary Tom - PartnerActive35 yrs

170 Changebridge Rd Ste D5-5, Montville, NJ 07045

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (14)
Facebook
5.0 (7)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Benjamin J. Campos LLC represents individuals and families in matters involving probate administration and estate planning. Serving Paterson and the nearby communities, the firm helps executors and beneficiaries of the estate in handling and distributing the decedent's assets. Conflicts or disputes such as will contests, third-party claims, and heirship issues are also handled by its legal staff. Benjamin Campos also assists in the preparation, drafting, and execution of estate planning documents like powers of attorney and health care directives.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Benjamin Campos - PrincipalActive7 yrs

73 Mountain View Blvd, Wayne, NJ 07470

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (504)
Google
4.9 (197)
Yelp
4.7 (30)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Louis B. Chapman has been providing legal assistance in Paterson and nearby locations for more than three decades. Included in its services are estate planning and administration. The firm also creates personalized wills according to clients' religious convictions and litigates matters concerning contested wills. It is headed by Louis Chapman, who is a member of the American Bar Association. The attorney, who also practices personal injury and real estate law, graduated from law school in 1984.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Louis Chapman - PrincipalActive40 yrs
Louis Chapman - PrincipalActive40 yrs

00-99 Plaza Road, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.3 (3)
Avvo
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

The Levine Law Firm assists Paterson residents with estate planning, probate, and estate and trust administration. Its lawyers help families and individuals in planning trusts, preparing powers of appointment and attorney, and designating beneficiaries. They settle debts and taxes and distribute the estate according to the will of the deceased. The law office also practices in the areas of civil and business litigation, personal injury, real estate, business, and family law. The Levine Law Firm has been providing legal services for more than 50 years.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

210 Summit Avenue Suite A11, Montvale, NJ 07645

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.1 (8)

Why choose this provider?

Donohue O’Connell & Riley PLLC helps in the trust and estate administration for individuals and businesses in Paterson. Its attorneys act as fiduciaries and collaborate with the client's team of financial advisers and specialists to supervise the investment of assets and carry out their objectives. They also assist in the establishment of trusts and structuring their terms. Managing member Joseph M. Donohue works with affluent families and company owners to manage their plans and make their real estate, investment, and insurance holdings more tax efficient.

  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

80 Ward St - 3rd Floor, Paterson, NJ 07505

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (3)
Avvo
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Robert Pures assists residents of Paterson with probate matters. With well over a decade of legal experience, Pures has tackled different cases concerning the arrangement of trusts, preparation and execution of wills, and division of properties and inheritances. He also helps clients who are seeking divorce, alimony, child support, or child custody achieve advantageous outcomes. Pures is licensed in New York and in the District of Columbia and focuses his practice on immigration law.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Robert Pures - PrincipalActive20 yrs

175 Fairfield Avenue, West Caldwell, NJ 07006

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (33)
Facebook
5.0 (10)

Why choose this provider?

Kemenczy Law is a firm that helps Paterson clients who are working on probate proceedings. It assists in organizing assets of the estates, determining and paying liabilities, identifying beneficiaries, and transferring assets to named beneficiaries. Additionally, it handles personal injury and workers' compensation cases. John L. Kemenczy is a member of The Justice Marie L. Garibaldi American Inn of Court for ADR and legal counsel of Hispanic Law Enforcement Society of Essex County. He also received Essex County Bar Association's Service Award for his pro bono services.

  • Wills
  • Probate

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
John Kemenczy - PrincipalActive36 yrs

15 Warren Street Suite 30, Hackensack, NJ 07601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (55)
Avvo
4.4 (13)
Facebook
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

The Michael Willis Law Group LLC assists families in the Paterson area in probate. It drafts and files a will on property disposition and guides clients through the procedures of inheritance and intestate succession laws. The firm also handles estate, Medicaid, and new parent planning. It manages trusts, protects assets, contests wills, defends against contested wills, and assists in appointing guardians. Founding attorney Michael T. Willis is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

350 West Passaic Street, Rochelle Park, NJ 07662

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (29)

Why choose this provider?

Kaplan Law Practice, LLC is a law firm that provides legal help to business owners and families in Paterson and nearby areas. The probate attorneys at this firm assist in navigating the complex process of guardianship and kinship proceedings, will contest, and fiduciary removals and accounting. They are also knowledgeable in drafting all types of will, trusts, and asset preservation planning. Kaplan Law Practice, LLC also handles trademarks, Medicaid application, business and commercial law.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Joshua Kaplan - PrincipalActive15 yrs

745 Kinderkamack Road, River Edge, NJ 07661

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (19)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Firm of Colin M. Quinn provides legal counsel and representation services in Paterson. Its probate attorneys assist in will and trust contests, guardianships for minor children, litigation disputes, and the determination of heirs. They help in the process of gathering all assets, settling debts, transferring titles, and filing estate inventories. The Law Firm of Colin M. Quinn also handles the creation and update of living wills and trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives.

  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Taxes

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Colin Quinn - PrincipalActive36 yrs

1044 State Route 23 Suite 102, Wayne, NJ 07470

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (11)

Why choose this provider?

For over 50 years, Puccio & Fiorello LLC has been providing legal services to individuals and families in Paterson. With over 90 years of combined experience, its attorneys handle various probate matters, including the preparation of court-required accounting documents and other distribution documents. They also help resolve will disputes, claims of wrongdoing by fiduciaries, and other estate conflicts. Other areas of their practice are family law, estate planning, and elder law. Founder John Fiorello is a former president of the Passaic County Bar Association.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Paterson, New Jersey?

    The police non-emergency line in Paterson is (973) 321-1111.

  • What are the locations and documents to keep in mind when submitting a will to probate in Paterson?

    When submitting a will to probate in Paterson, the documents must be submitted to the surrogate who is stationed at 71 Hamilton Street, Room 101, Paterson, NJ 07505. The petitioner must bring the death certificate of the testator matched with the addresses and names of the rest of kin. The claimant needs a government photo ID plus the will itself.

  • Why is it preferable in Paterson to leave behind a will even if it requires a court process to validate?

    It is preferable in Paterson to leave behind a will because while it requires a court process to probate and prove, the alternative is messier. When there is no will, the court decides everything for the decedent, from how to distribute the shares and who the heirs and executors are. It also excludes charities and non-family members for whom the individual may wish to leave a legacy.

  • In Paterson, why must the testator update a will any time there is a new child born?

    A testator in Paterson must update a will any time there is a new child to prevent partial intestate succession. Any children omitted from a will are entitled to get a share of the estate. The portion will be determined through the same processes and laws followed when a person dies without a will. It could lead to situations where every heir has disproportional shares in the inheritance.

  • Can a close personal friend who is not a true member of the family still receive estate property by way of inheritance in Paterson?

    Yes, a close personal friend in PAterson can receive an inheritance from the estate though no familial ties exist but only if there is a legacy left in the will. If there is no document left behind by the decedent, there is no way for the succession to occur. Intestacy is reserved for family members only, and friends are not family.

  • How can a testator in Paterson prevent an unloved child from inheriting anything?

    To prevent an unloved child in Paterson from receiving anything from the estate, the testator has to disinherit the child outright in the will. The person must be named and expressly left out of the succession process. There does not have to be any valid reason stated, but the jurisdiction does not recognize the principle of disinheritance through omission.

Related Articles

FeaturedProbate

6 Steps To Hire A Probate Attorney

Follow these steps to hire a probate attorney if you've been named the executor of a will and you need immediate help.