William M Goldberg

I am named as a beneficiary in a will prepared by this man. It was poorly drafted. He allowed the Testatrix to cross out items and initial them and told her that this was acceptable. When she died, Bergen County Surrogates Court refused to probate the will because of the cross outs. He claimed th...at he never knew this couldn't be done in all his 40+ years of practicing. Meanwhile the courts rules are so clear regarding this that it specifically says on the Surrogates Court's website if you make any handwritten changes on the will, this will invalidate it. Needless to say 2 years later, I am embroiled in litigation regarding this will. My current attorney reviewed that will in disbelief. He also pointed out that the will even addresses the same individual more than once, by different names. (For example, one person starts out with their current legal name; 4 paragraphs later that same person is referred to by a nickname and then another few paragraphs later they are referred to by their maiden name - which makes it look like the will is talking about 3 different people instead of the same individual). I don't know what other types of law this attorney practices, but stay away from him regarding Wills, Trusts and Estates, or your heirs will spend tens of thousands of dollars in attorneys & court fees trying to validate a huge mess of a will created by this attorney.