Living Trust Attorney Serving Summit, NJ
If you own a home in Summit, a living trust is worth a serious look. Summit’s median home value runs well above $1,000,000 by most measures, and some recent estimates put it above $1,400,000. That changes the math on probate, on privacy, and in some cases, on Medicaid planning too. Add in the number of Summit families commuting into Manhattan on the Midtown Direct line, often with little time to spare for a drawn-out estate process, and the case for planning ahead gets stronger. This guide walks through what a living trust actually does, and why it matters more here.
Last Updated: September 2026
Why Summit Residents Choose the Law Firm of Benjamin Eckman
Benjamin D. Eckman has practiced elder law and estate planning in New Jersey for over 25 years, with membership in the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Elder Law and Real Property, Probate & Trust sections. That focus matters in a town where home equity alone can push a family close to New Jersey’s Medicaid asset threshold, a conversation that goes beyond what a general practice attorney typically handles day to day.
Summit families also value convenience. The firm’s Union office sits a short drive from downtown Summit and Overlook Medical Center, so appointments do not require a trip into Manhattan or a full day off from a Midtown Direct commute.
Common Living Trust Situations in Summit
High home equity against the Medicaid threshold. With median home values running from roughly $1,000,000 to more than $1,400,000 depending on the source, a meaningful number of Summit homeowners sit at or above New Jersey’s Medicaid home equity exclusion limit. That does not mean Medicaid takes the difference automatically, but it does mean the planning conversation carries more urgency than it would in a town with lower home values.
Commuting families with limited time. Many Summit residents commute into Manhattan on NJ Transit’s Midtown Direct service. That schedule leaves little room to manage a lengthy probate process later, which makes setting up a trust well before it is needed more valuable, not less.
Aging parents near Overlook Medical Center. Summit is home to Overlook Medical Center, and a number of local families are managing care for a parent receiving treatment there. When long-term care becomes part of the picture, the trust and Medicaid planning conversations often need to happen together.
Living Trust Services Available in Summit
Revocable Living Trusts – For most Summit homeowners, a revocable living trust is the starting point. You keep full control while you are alive, and it accomplishes the primary goal most families want: avoiding Union County Surrogate’s Court probate and keeping the transfer of your home and other assets private.
Irrevocable Trusts and Medicaid Planning – An irrevocable trust serves a different purpose. Once funded, it can remove a home from your countable assets for Medicaid purposes, but only if it is funded at least five years before care is needed. Given Summit’s home values, this option comes up often in Medicaid planning conversations.
Probate Avoidance Planning – Without a trust, a Summit home passes through a will and through Union County Surrogate’s Court, a public process that can take months for a higher-value estate. Read more on the pros and cons of putting your home in a trust.
Asset Protection Planning – Trusts are one piece of a broader plan for professionals commuting into New York and families with significant home equity. Asset protection planning can address business interests alongside trust planning.
What to Expect When You Contact the Law Firm of Benjamin Eckman
Schedule a Consultation. Call (908) 206-1000 or use the online booking form to schedule a consultation at a time that works around a commuting schedule.
Discuss Your Specific Numbers. Benjamin Eckman reviews your home value, other assets, and family situation to identify which type of trust, if any, fits your goals.
Receive a Clear Plan. You leave with a specific recommendation and next steps, not a generic template.
About the Law Firm of Benjamin Eckman
Benjamin D. Eckman is the founder of the Law Firm of Benjamin D. Eckman, based in Union, New Jersey, with additional offices in Wayne and Hackensack. He holds a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and has practiced elder law and estate planning in New Jersey for over 25 years. He is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Elder Law and Real Property, Probate & Trust sections, the New York State Bar Association, and the Union, Passaic, and Bergen County Bar Associations. The firm serves clients throughout Union County, including Summit, from its Union office.
Key Takeaways
- Summit’s median home value runs from roughly $1,000,000 to more than $1,400,000 depending on the source, placing many homeowners at or above New Jersey’s Medicaid home equity exclusion limit.
- A revocable living trust can help avoid Union County Surrogate’s Court probate but does not protect a home from Medicaid.
- An irrevocable trust can remove a home from Medicaid’s asset calculation only if it is funded at least five years before care is needed.
- The cost of setting up a trust depends on the complexity of the estate, and each situation is unique.
- Summit’s commuter schedule makes planning ahead, rather than reacting during a crisis, especially practical for local families.
Questions From Summit Residents
Do I need a living trust if I already have a will?
A will and a trust do different jobs. A will directs where your assets go, but everything in it still goes through probate. A living trust holds your assets directly, so they can pass to your beneficiaries without Union County Surrogate’s Court involvement. Many Summit families use both.
Does a living trust protect my Summit home from Medicaid?
A revocable living trust does not. Only a properly funded irrevocable trust, set up at least five years before care is needed, can remove a home from Medicaid’s asset calculation. Given Summit’s home values, that is a separate conversation from basic probate avoidance and worth raising early.
How much does a living trust cost to set up?
Each person’s matter is unique and costs can only be determined after consulting with one of our attorneys. Setting up a trust for a single-family home in Summit typically costs less than an irrevocable trust built around Medicaid planning, but the right way to get an accurate number is a conversation about your specific goals.
I commute into Manhattan for work. Can I still fit this into my schedule?
Yes. Consultations can be scheduled around a commuting routine, and most of the planning conversation does not require repeat trips to the office. Many Summit clients handle the bulk of the process in one or two visits.
Can I change my mind after setting up a trust?
With a revocable trust, yes, at any time and for any reason. With an irrevocable trust, generally no, which is the tradeoff for the Medicaid protection it can provide.
Serving Summit and Surrounding Areas
The Law Firm of Benjamin Eckman serves Summit families alongside neighboring communities including New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Springfield, Chatham, and Mountainside. Many Summit clients travel along Springfield Avenue and Route 24 to reach the firm’s Union office, a short drive from downtown. The practice serves homeowners and families throughout Union County and the surrounding communities of Union, Essex, and Morris counties.
Contact the Law Firm of Benjamin Eckman – Serving Summit
If you are a Summit homeowner weighing whether a living trust fits your situation, the numbers are worth discussing before a health event or estate question forces the issue. Call (908) 206-1000 to schedule a consultation, or visit eckman-elderlaw.com/book-a-call/. Attorney Eckman will review your specific numbers and lay out a clear path forward.