Law Offices of Jeff Vandrew Jr, Attorney-CPA
Protecting your Assets for Future Generations
Firm Overview
I understand that most people's objective is not to win their day in court, but to stay out of conflicts altogether. As soon as two parties step into a courtroom, they've both already lost something. That's why despite being an attorney, you'll never catch me in court.
I focus instead on four main areas:
• wills, trusts, and estate planning
• advising small businesses
• real estate transactions
• asset protection planning
In each of those areas, rather than play the role of a more traditional lawyer, I try to engage my clients in a collaborative effort to ensure their goals are met in the least burdensome way possible. Sometimes we're even able to have a little fun.
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Example cases
Estate Planning:
• I met with a couple and devised an estate plan to ensure that their assets would pass to their children upon their deaths with as little tax burden as possible. We also discussed setting up legal structures to make sure their children's inheritances would be protected, even if a child were to end up in a messy divorce or bankruptcy.
• I drafted a Will, Power of Attorney, and Living Will for a young, single person to make sure her loved ones were taken care of in the event of her death and that her wishes were respected in the event of her incapacity.
Business Law:
• I provided business start-up assistance to a client opening a landscaping business. I was able to form an LLC for the client, draft an operating agreement, get the new LLC registered with the IRS and State Division of Taxation, review some contracts for the client, and advise the client on how to structure business operations for the best tax effect. To date, the business has been very successful.
• I represented a client in purchasing a region-wide fire protection company. I negotiated the contract of sale with the seller's attorney, and made sure my client was protected from any liabilities created by the seller.
Main
3153 Fire Road Suite 1A, Section 2
Egg Harbor Township
NJ
08234
- (609) 568-0109
Fees
I offer a free initial consultation of up to one hour if you mention this profile.
I try to do as much of my work as possible on a flat fee basis so clients don't need to worry about racking up billable hours. Here are some examples of my flat fees:
1. I can form a single member LLC for you, obtain an EIN (tax ID number) from IRS, register the LLC with the New Jersey Division of Taxation, and provide you with a single member operating agreement. My flat fee in that matter would be $350 plus state filing fees if you mention that you saw this profile. You will probably find that fee to be less than most online services which do not provide you with an operating agreement and don't register you with the New Jersey Division of Taxation (which is different from obtaining the EIN from the IRS).
2. Initial meetings in my office to discuss estate plans (wills, trusts, etc.) are always free if you mention this profile. If after we meet you decide not to use my services, you owe me nothing. During out initial meeting, I will be able to outline your options, and based on the options you choose I will give you a set-in-stone flat fee figure that you can use to decide if you want to proceed. To give you some idea, full estate plans including a will, power of attorney, and living will start at $750 and vary from there depending on what options you select. The options you select are based on the size of your estate and the level of protection you want for your assets.
Those are just two examples. I have flat fees for dozens of other matters as well. If you give me a call at (609) 568-0109 and mention this profile, we can have a free consultation where we can discuss your estate planning or small business needs. If I can't give a flat fee on a certain matter, I will explain why and will give an estimate of what hourly fees on such a matter might be.
There is a good chance that on certain matters I won't be the absolute rock bottom cheapest attorney you will find. However, I hope that my particular expertise, my accessibility to my clients, and my predictable, no surprise flat fees will lead to a good attorney-client relationship with you.
Most work is done on a flat fee basis.
Office Information
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Later appointments available on request.
I hope you'll find all of my assistants and interns friendly and helpful.
No
But many people need more. For those people, I'm here to reduce burdens and address their concerns.
Reducing Death Taxes. Most people know that once their net worth rises above a certain level, they need to worry about planning for the federal estate tax. However, did you know that even if your net worth is far below the federal threshold, you may still need to plan for New Jersey Inheritance Tax and New Jersey Estate Tax? Planning with death taxes in mind means more money passing to your loved ones with less hassle after you are gone.
Protecting Your Children from their own Potential Future Divorce. The largest single threat to your loved ones' inheritances often is their potential future divorces. With proper planning using trusts, we can create a financial safety net for your loved ones that won't be lost even if if they find themselves in a messy divorce or bankruptcy.
Planning for Minors. If the worst were to happen and you were to leave your minor children behind, who would care for them? Who would manage the funds you left behind to finance their future education and other needs? These questions should be answered in a solid estate plan.
Planning for Your Own Future Health Issues. If you were unable to take care of yourself, who would you want to make decisions for you? You can avoid nasty family fights in the future by planning for this ahead of time. If you were to require nursing home care, would all of your assets be lost to the nursing home and Medicaid? Pre-planning can help ensure that doesn't happen.
Planning for the Unmarried and Childfree. Estate planning can be even more important for the unmarried and/or those without children. The New Jersey Inheritance Tax is inherently unfair and taxes the unmarried and childfree more than married individuals with children. This makes pre-planning for Inheritance Tax even more important.
Ongoing Maintenance of your Estate Plan. If you don't update your estate plan regularly, it becomes ineffective. Unfortunately, it's tough to remember to dig up your documents regularly and schedule a review with your attorney. You may not even know how frequently you should do so. The solution to this problem is my Concierge Lawyer Service, which takes all of the stress of remembering to review your affairs off of you. See the menu our website for further details.
I don't just draft documents. I take the extra step to reduce the stress and hassle associated with these issues.
I can provide advising on the best possible structure for your business from both a tax and non-tax perspective.
I can draft documents defining the rights and responsibilities of each owner, including Operating Agreements, Partnership Agreements, Corporate Bylaws, and Shareholder Agreements.
If you are purchasing a business or merging into an existing business, I can help every step of the way from negotiating and drafting the contract, to negotiating and drafting noncompete agreements, to due diligence, to closing. I can even assist in structuring the transaction in the most advantageous way in terms of both tax and non-tax concerns.
If you are selling your business, I am also here to assist. I can represent your interests in the negotiating and drafting of the contract of sale and guide you all the way through closing. I can also assist with bulk sales clearance to ensure that you aren't hit with tax liabilities years after the sale is complete.
I can also assist goods or services contracts, employment or independent contractor agreements, confidentiality agreements, non-compete agreements, or any other contract or transaction.
I can represent you in every phase of a real estate transaction, from negotiating the contract of sale to closing, for both commercial and residential transactions.
But many people need more. For those people, I'm here to reduce burdens and address their concerns.
Reducing Death Taxes. Most people know that once their net worth rises above a certain level, they need to worry about planning for the federal estate tax. However, did you know that even if your net worth is far below the federal threshold, you may still need to plan for New Jersey Inheritance Tax and New Jersey Estate Tax? Planning with death taxes in mind means more money passing to your loved ones with less hassle after you are gone.
Protecting Your Children from their own Potential Future Divorce. The largest single threat to your loved ones' inheritances often is their potential future divorces. With proper planning using trusts, we can create a financial safety net for your loved ones that won't be lost even if if they find themselves in a messy divorce or bankruptcy.
Planning for Minors. If the worst were to happen and you were to leave your minor children behind, who would care for them? Who would manage the funds you left behind to finance their future education and other needs? These questions should be answered in a solid estate plan.
Planning for Your Own Future Health Issues. If you were unable to take care of yourself, who would you want to make decisions for you? You can avoid nasty family fights in the future by planning for this ahead of time. If you were to require nursing home care, would all of your assets be lost to the nursing home and Medicaid? Pre-planning can help ensure that doesn't happen.
Planning for the Unmarried and Childfree. Estate planning can be even more important for the unmarried and/or those without children. The New Jersey Inheritance Tax is inherently unfair and taxes the unmarried and childfree more than married individuals with children. This makes pre-planning for Inheritance Tax even more important.
Ongoing Maintenance of your Estate Plan. If you don't update your estate plan regularly, it becomes ineffective. Unfortunately, it's tough to remember to dig up your documents regularly and schedule a review with your attorney. You may not even know how frequently you should do so. The solution to this problem is my Concierge Lawyer Service, which takes all of the stress of remembering to review your affairs off of you. See the menu our website for further details.
I don't just draft documents. I take the extra step to reduce the stress and hassle associated with these issues.
But many people need more. For those people, I'm here to reduce burdens and address their concerns.
Reducing Death Taxes. Most people know that once their net worth rises above a certain level, they need to worry about planning for the federal estate tax. However, did you know that even if your net worth is far below the federal threshold, you may still need to plan for New Jersey Inheritance Tax and New Jersey Estate Tax? Planning with death taxes in mind means more money passing to your loved ones with less hassle after you are gone.
Protecting Your Children from their own Potential Future Divorce. The largest single threat to your loved ones' inheritances often is their potential future divorces. With proper planning using trusts, we can create a financial safety net for your loved ones that won't be lost even if if they find themselves in a messy divorce or bankruptcy.
Planning for Minors. If the worst were to happen and you were to leave your minor children behind, who would care for them? Who would manage the funds you left behind to finance their future education and other needs? These questions should be answered in a solid estate plan.
Planning for Your Own Future Health Issues. If you were unable to take care of yourself, who would you want to make decisions for you? You can avoid nasty family fights in the future by planning for this ahead of time. If you were to require nursing home care, would all of your assets be lost to the nursing home and Medicaid? Pre-planning can help ensure that doesn't happen.
Planning for the Unmarried and Childfree. Estate planning can be even more important for the unmarried and/or those without children. The New Jersey Inheritance Tax is inherently unfair and taxes the unmarried and childfree more than married individuals with children. This makes pre-planning for Inheritance Tax even more important.
Ongoing Maintenance of your Estate Plan. If you don't update your estate plan regularly, it becomes ineffective. Unfortunately, it's tough to remember to dig up your documents regularly and schedule a review with your attorney. You may not even know how frequently you should do so. The solution to this problem is my Concierge Lawyer Service, which takes all of the stress of remembering to review your affairs off of you. See the menu our website for further details.
I don't just draft documents. I take the extra step to reduce the stress and hassle associated with these issues.
I can represent you in every phase of a real estate transaction, from negotiating the contract of sale to closing, for both commercial and residential transactions.
Administering a loved one's estate through probate on your own can add to the stress of this difficult time. Instead of taking on this task alone, I can guide you through the probate administration of the estate, easing the burden on you as much as possible. I can assist you in collecting assets, distributing them properly, discharging debts, and fulfilling all of your legal obligations as executor or administrator of the estate. It is my goal to reduce the worry of your already stressful time.
How did your firm decide on the primary area of practice(s)?
I don't like litigation. By nature, I'm not an argumentative person. I would rather work collaboratively to achieve someone's goals than spend my time arguing with another attorney. That's why I've structured my entire practice around legal planning services that keep people out of the courtroom.
What is your firm's point of view regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I am always glad to have an informed client. If you have some knowledge of legal issues, it usually makes it easier for me to explain the "legalese" of a situation. All I have to do is fill in the gaps in your knowledge.
Is your firm willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I am willing to review client prepared documents. Usually this goes one of two ways. Sometimes, with a simpler document, I am able to just review and suggest changes (if any need to be made). In a more complex situation, usually I review your document to determine your goals, and then I draft a document that meets those goals. Even in more complex situations where I end up drafting the final document, your initial document is usually still useful because it distills down exactly what you are trying to do, and I can usually use some of your language.
Is your firm willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
Unfortunately, the ethics rules that apply to attorneys make it very difficult for me to simply "coach" someone who is representing themselves. It is easier instead for me to just represent you as your attorney in the matter. If you choose to let me represent you as your attorney, I try to be upfront about my fees so that you can feel comfortable letting me represent you without worrying about racking up a huge bill.
Jeff Vandrew Jr, Attorney-CPA
For my individual estate planning clients, I believe that being both an attorney and CPA helps me not only consider the legal and human aspects of a will, trust, or other legal document, but also the tax aspects.
For my small business clients, I believe that being both an attorney and a CPA allows me to be their trusted advisor for all of their needs.
For my individual estate planning clients, I believe that being both an attorney and CPA helps me not only consider the legal and human aspects of a will, trust, or other legal document, but also the tax aspects.
I try to be friendly and keep things very casual. You will never catch anyone wearing a suit or tie in my office. It's my belief that being excessively formal doesn't make someone any more professional or knowledgeable.
I like the beach, baseball, and old cars. You will usually find my restored 1987 Chevrolet El Camino parked outside my office.
- Bar Number: 017362007
New Jersey , 2007
- Rutgers Law School
Juris Doctorate , 2007
Camden, NJ
- Rutgers University
Bachelor's Degree , 2003
New Brunswick, NJ
* Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the state agency that licenses lawyers. Any past disbarments and suspensions (with possible exceptions for minor violations or nonpayment of dues, in our discretion) will be indicated accordingly in the badge. Member attorneys are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any state licensing agency.
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