Selecting an attorney for legal cases is a very important decision. Please enter your information below to receive a Free Consultation from an attorney in your area:
Probate Law News
Swanson Files Suit Against American Family Legal Plan And Heritage Marketing And Insurance Services
Attorney General Lori Swanson today filed a lawsuit against two California companies, American Family Legal Plan and Heritage Marketing and Insurance Services, Inc., for operating a “trust mill” that preys upon Minnesota senior citizens.
Swanson said that American Family Legal Plan initiates a “trust mill” scheme through a direct mailing to senior citizens, telling them that the company has special expertise in estate planning and can advise clients on how to avoid estate taxes and probate fees. If the senior citizen responds positively, Swanson said an agent posing as an estate planner meets the senior citizen at home and sells the person a plan for $2,000 or more. Swanson said that during this meeting, the agent will distort and misrepresent the impact of probate fees and estate taxes, causing the senior citizen to buy the trust out of fear that their heirs will lose the estate.
“These companies deceptively sold boilerplate living trusts to senior citizens regardless of whether those trusts were suitable for the seniors’ estate planning or financial needs,” Swanson said.
Swanson said the first half of the profit scheme is the “trust mill.” After the first meeting with an agent, the senior receives one short telephone call from an attorney who asks very general questions. Thereafter, regardless of the senior’s assets, marital status, existing estate plan, or the likely tax or probate liability, the attorney approves the use of a boilerplate “living trust” for the client. The attorney does not have a personal meeting with the senior, nor does the attorney ask specific estate-related questions. American Family Legal Plan agents receive a commission of approximately $600-$800 for each living trust sold. Read more at ag.state.mn.us.
You May Be Able To Avoid Probate
A living trust is one way someone may be able to eliminate the need for probate. This trust holds legal title to your property after your death and will survive you after your death. Always consult a probate lawyer first.
Newsroom
Latest news about probate cases in New Jersey and nationwide:
If you live in the following cities and need an probate attorney you should contact
our Probate Attorney as soon as possible:
Absecon
Asbury Park
Atlantic City
Bayonne
Blackwood
Bloomfield
Brick
Bridgeton
Bridgewater
Clementon
Clifton
East Brunswick
East Orange
Edison
Elizabeth
Englishtown
Fort Lee
Freehold
Hackensack
Hoboken
Howell
Jackson
Jersey City
Kearny
Lakewood
Linden
Marlton
Millville
Monroe Township
Morristown
Mount Holly
Mount Laurel
New Brunswick
Newark
North Bergen
North Brunswick
Old Bridge
Passaic
Paterson
Perth Amboy
Piscataway
Plainfield
Princeton
Sewell
Somerset
Teaneck
Toms River
Trenton
Union
Vineland
Wayne
Legal Disclaimers All attorney listings are a paid attorney advertisement, and do not in any way constitute a referral or endorsement by an approved or authorized lawyer referral service. The information provided on New Jersey Probate Lawyers.com is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys
general information related to legal issues commonly encountered. Your access
to and use of this website is subject to additional Terms
and Conditions.
Local Professional? Generate new business today
Call 866-227-9356 or contact a sales rep
Did You Know?