Will,Trust, Estate and Probate Attorney

Willow Ridge Executive Office Park
750 Route 73 South, Suite 104B
Marlton, NJ 08053

Meet Our Founder

Dana earned her Juris Doctorate at the Beasley School of Law at Temple University. Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Maryland and Master of Arts at the University of Delaware. During her career, Dana has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Philadelphia Magazine and an “Awesome Attorney” by South Jersey Magazine. Dana is proud to have been included in the VIP Hall of Fame for pro bono work for Philadelphians needing assistance. Dana is admitted to the New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for New Jersey, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She also sits as an Arbitrator in the Superior Court of New Jersey in Monmouth and Mercer Counties. Dana serves her community through volunteer work with the BSA Scouts, sits as the Joint Committee Chair for a committee supporting two linked BSA Troops, and is a committee member for a BSA Ship. Dana enjoys the outdoors, camping, hiking, and generally enjoying the lakes and waterways in and around the New Jersey Pine Barrens with Virgil, her loyal dog.

Our Areas of Practice

In The Tarquini Law Firm LLC, we work to protect client’s assets and ensure that their wishes are carried out after their death. We help clients develop comprehensive plans to protect their assets.

Last will and testament

This area of practice involves creating legal documents that specifies how the person’s assets should be distributed after their death and appoints guardians for minor children, if applicable.

Trust

Legal arrangements that allow assets to be managed and distributed according to specific instructions. Trusts can help avoid probate, minimize taxes, and provide for beneficiaries with special needs.


Estate Planning

Estate plan is a comprehensive set of legal documents and instructions that outline how a person’s assets and affairs should be managed and distributed both during their lifetime and after their death. 

Why make an Estate Plan?

Making an estate plan is like making a unique plan for what happens to your things when you’re not around anymore. Here’s why it’s important:

1. Taking Care of Loved Ones: With an estate plan, you can make sure your family, kids, and pets are taken care of just like you want them to be.

2. Avoiding Arguments: Sometimes, when people don’t have a plan, their family can argue about who gets what. Planning can help avoid fights and hurt feelings.

3. Protecting Your Stuff: You’ve worked hard for your belongings, so ensuring they go to the right people or causes when you’re gone is essential.

4. Making Tough Choices Easier: If you’re sick and can’t make decisions, an estate plan helps by letting someone you trust make choices for you.

5. Saving Money and Time: Without a plan, your family might have to spend a lot of time and money in court sorting things out. An estate plan can help them avoid that hassle.

Overall, making an estate plan is a way to make sure things go smoothly for your loved ones after you’re gone.

What is a Durable Power of Attorney?

A Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) is a legal document that allows someone (the “principal”) to appoint another person (the “agent” or “attorney-in-fact”) to make financial and legal decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so themselves due to illness, injury, or incapacity. Unlike a regular power of attorney, which may become invalid if the principal becomes incapacitated, a Durable Power of Attorney remains effective even in such circumstances. With a DPOA, the agent can handle various matters on behalf of the principal, such as managing finances, paying bills, accessing bank accounts, and making legal decisions. The powers granted to the agent can be broad or specific, depending on the principal’s decision when creating the document. Having a Durable Power of Attorney in place can provide peace of mind and ensure that someone trusted can manage important affairs if the principal cannot do so themselves

What happens if a person does not have a will?

When a person dies without a will, they are said to have died intestate. “Intestate” means that someone has passed away without leaving a will. When a person dies intestate, it means they didn’t write down instructions for how they wanted their belongings, money, and property to be distributed after their death. Without a will, the distribution of their estate (everything they owned) is determined by state laws rather than the person’s wishes. These laws, known as intestacy laws, vary from state to state. Typically, intestacy laws prioritize close family members like spouses, children, parents, and siblings in the distribution of the deceased person’s assets. However, without a will, the process can be more complicated and might lead to disputes among family members. So, making a will is not just a legal requirement, but also a way to ensure your personal wishes are respected and followed, giving you a sense of empowerment and responsibility

Testimonials

I had the pleasure of working with Dana on a case where the senior clients were losing their home. At the point that Dana took the case, we literally had 26 days to close a reverse mortgage in order to satisfy a foreclosure before the date of the auction. There were some title issues and some old liens that would normally take much longer to correct, but not with Dana on the job. She jumped right in and went to the client’s home when needed. It takes a special person to help the elderly, and Dana is not only a brilliant attorney, she is really wonderful as well!! I recommend that you send her any seniors that are struggling with issues. She’s great!!

Sandra Rostek
Reverse Mortgage Specialist.

Dana does excellent work and has been instrumental in finding optimal solutions for clients in multiple areas of the law. 

Henry Canelo, Esq.