Estate Planning for Summit Families
Between the train into the city, the kids' schedules, and a career that doesn't slow down, estate planning is the project that keeps sliding to next month. I'm Shlomo Himmel — estate planning attorney and former ER nurse. My Summit clients finish their entire plan without taking a day off: video planning sessions in the evening, documents signed in person, everything done in two to three weeks for one flat fee.
What's Actually at Stake for a Summit Household.
Summit families tend to have more moving pieces than most: equity compensation, multiple retirement accounts, a home that's appreciated enormously, and life insurance through work. The more pieces there are, the more an unplanned estate costs your family.
Equity Comp & Scattered Assets
RSUs, deferred compensation, old 401(k)s from three employers ago, brokerage accounts — these pass by beneficiary designation, not by your will. An estate plan pulls every piece into one coordinated picture, so nothing lands in the wrong hands on a technicality.
Privacy for Your Estate
Probate is a public court record — anyone can see what you owned and who got it. A trust-based plan transfers everything privately. For families with significant assets, that privacy alone justifies the plan.
Who Raises Your Children
The most important document a parent can sign. Without a written guardianship designation, the decision goes to a courtroom — and the people you'd never have chosen can apply.
Everything Your Family Needs. One Complete Plan.
Wills & Living Trusts
Decide exactly who inherits what — and keep your family out of probate court. A trust also keeps everything private and avoids months of delay.
Powers of Attorney
Name someone you trust to manage finances and legal decisions if you ever can't. Without this, your family has to go to court for permission.
Healthcare Directives
Healthcare proxies, living wills, and advance directives — drafted by an attorney who's used them clinically in emergency departments.
Guardianship Designations
Name who raises your children if something happens to you. Without a written designation, a judge decides — and your wishes aren't part of the record.
Built by Someone Who's Seen When These Documents Get Used.
When I draft your healthcare directive, I'm not guessing what incapacity looks like — I've stood at the bedside in Level I trauma centers as a registered nurse. Every document in your plan is written by one attorney who has seen exactly when, and how, it matters. No handoffs, no hourly billing, no surprises.
Three Simple Steps for Summit Clients.
The Planning Call
Thirty minutes, by phone or video. I learn about your family and goals. You leave with a clear flat-fee quote — before anything begins.
Plan Design Session
By video, evenings available. We decide will vs. trust, name your people, and I draft everything for your review.
Signing & Done
At my office — about 20 minutes from downtown Summit — or at your home. Your wishes are on paper and your family is protected.
A Plan Now Costs a Fraction of No Plan Later.
Every estate plan comes with a clear, flat fee — quoted on your planning call, before anything begins. No hourly billing, no surprises. Here's how the numbers compare for a Summit family.
✗ Without a Plan
- The court decides who raises your kids
- Your home and accounts sit frozen in probate for months
- Your estate becomes a public court record
- Your family pays thousands in avoidable fees and taxes
- Loved ones are left guessing your wishes
✓ With a Plan
- You choose who raises your children
- Your home transfers privately — no probate
- Your affairs stay your family's business
- One flat fee, quoted upfront, and it's done
- Your wishes are crystal clear and legally binding
Curious What Probate Would Actually Cost Your Family?
Run your numbers through the free NJ Probate Cost Calculator — two minutes, real figures for an estate like yours.
Good Questions. Clear Answers.
We both work in the city — can we really do this remotely?
Almost entirely. The planning call and design session happen by video, evenings included. The only in-person step is the signing, which I can do at your home — including on a weekend.
Do we need a trust, or is a will enough?
For many Summit households, the combination of home value, equity compensation, and a preference for privacy makes a trust worth serious discussion. But not always — and I'll tell you honestly on the planning call if a will package covers you. You'll see both options with real numbers before deciding.
Do you come to Summit?
Yes — signings can happen at your home, and planning sessions are typically by video. You never need to take a day off work for this.
What about our life insurance and 401(k)s?
Those pass by beneficiary designation, not by your will — and outdated designations are one of the most common (and most painful) estate planning mistakes I see. Reviewing them is part of every plan I prepare.
Ready to Check This Off the List?
One conversation. A clear flat fee. Done in two to three weeks.
The Himmel Law Firm • Serving Summit, Union County & All of New Jersey • Virtual Sessions Available