--- title: "Estate Planning for Families | Legacy Counsel" description: "Wills, guardianship, trusts for minor children, and 529 planning for families in NY, NJ, and OH." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "LegalService", "@id": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/#legalservice", "name": "Jacobs Legacy Counsel", "alternateName": [ "Legacy Counsel by Jacobs Counsel", "Jacobs Legacy" ], "url": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com", "description": "Fixed-fee estate planning for high-net-worth families, founders, executives, and professional athletes. Licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio.", "logo": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/logo-dark.jpg", "image": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/og-image.jpg", "telephone": "+1-646-343-7227", "email": "intake@jacobscounsellaw.com", "priceRange": "Fixed-fee engagements", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "221 River Street, Floor 9", "addressLocality": "Hoboken", "addressRegion": "NJ", "postalCode": "07030", "addressCountry": "US" }, "areaServed": [ { "@type": "State", "name": "New York" }, { "@type": "State", "name": "New Jersey" }, { "@type": "State", "name": "Ohio" } ], "knowsAbout": [ "Estate planning", "Revocable living trusts", "Irrevocable trusts", "Dynasty trusts", "Asset protection planning", "Generation-skipping transfer tax planning", "Estate planning for professional athletes", "Estate planning for founders and executives", "QSBS planning", "Pre-liquidity estate planning", "Probate and trust administration" ], "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+1-646-343-7227", "email": "intake@jacobscounsellaw.com", "contactType": "client intake", "areaServed": [ "US-NY", "US-NJ", "US-OH" ], "availableLanguage": [ "en" ] }, "founder": { "@id": "https://jacobscounsellaw.com/about/drew-jacobs#person" }, "employee": { "@id": "https://jacobscounsellaw.com/about/drew-jacobs#person" }, "parentOrganization": { "@type": "LegalService", "@id": "https://jacobscounsellaw.com/#legalservice", "name": "Jacobs Counsel LLC", "url": "https://jacobscounsellaw.com" }, "sameAs": [ "https://jacobscounsellaw.com", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/jacobs-counsel", "https://www.instagram.com/jacobscounsel" ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/#website", "url": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com", "name": "Jacobs Legacy Counsel", "publisher": { "@id": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/#legalservice" }, "inLanguage": "en-US" }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://jacobscounsellaw.com/about/drew-jacobs#person", "name": "Andrew R. Jacobs, Esq.", "alternateName": "Drew Jacobs", "url": "https://jacobscounsellaw.com/about/drew-jacobs", "jobTitle": "Founder & Managing Attorney", "worksFor": { "@id": "https://jacobscounsellaw.com/#legalservice" }, "sameAs": [ "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-jacobs-dj32/", "https://www.instagram.com/jacobscounsel", "https://profiles.superlawyers.com/new-york-metro/hoboken/lawyer/andrew-jacobs/5765bbd8-0554-4eb5-be6d-0431db28f834.html", "https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/07030-nj-andrew-jacobs-5765bbd8.html", "https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/attorneyservices/search?lastName=jacobs&firstName=andrew" ] } ] }, [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebPage", "name": "Estate Planning for Families", "description": "Wills, guardianship, trusts for minor children, and 529 planning for families in NY, NJ, and OH.", "url": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/estate-planning/families", "isPartOf": { "@type": "LegalService", "name": "Legacy Counsel by Jacobs Counsel LLC", "url": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "When should I create my first estate plan?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "At the latest, when you have a child, buy a home, or accumulate retirement assets." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What happens if I do not name a guardian for my children?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A court will appoint one." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much life insurance do parents with minor children need?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A common starting point is 10–12x the working parent's income, plus expected education costs, plus mortgage payoff, minus existing liquid assets." } } ] } ], { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Estate Planning", "item": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/estate-planning" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Families", "item": "https://jacobslegacycounsel.com/estate-planning/families" } ] } ] --- A Practice of [Jacobs Counsel LLC](https://jacobscounsellaw.com) Serving NY · NJ · OH — Vol. 2026 [Legacy Counsel ](/) Firm Resources Estate Planning Trusts [Probate & Admin](/probate-trust-administration)[Pricing](/pricing)[Book Call](https://cal.com/drewjacobs/estate-planning)[Start Intake](/get-started) Menu 1. [Home](/) 2. [Estate Planning](/estate-planning) 3. Families Estate Planning for Families Legacy Counsel # Estate Planning for Families If you have minor children, the most important paragraph in your estate plan is the one that names a guardian. [Start Intake](/get-started)[Book a Consultation](https://cal.com/drewjacobs/estate-planning) Key Points - ◆ Guardian designations for minor children (primary and successor) - ◆ Testamentary or revocable trusts to hold assets for minor beneficiaries - ◆ Life insurance sized to fund education, housing, and a guardian stipend - ◆ Coordination of 529 plans, UTMA accounts, and retirement beneficiary designations - ◆ Letters of instruction covering values, traditions, and practical guidance ## Guardianship is the headline decision Naming a guardian is the single decision most parents avoid — and the one that, if you do not make it, a court will make for you. ## Trusts for minor beneficiaries A 25-year-old should not inherit a seven-figure life insurance payout outright. ## Coordinating beneficiary designations and 529s Retirement accounts, life insurance, and 529s pass by beneficiary designation, not by the will. Frequently Asked When should I create my first estate plan? + At the latest, when you have a child, buy a home, or accumulate retirement assets. What happens if I do not name a guardian for my children? + A court will appoint one. How much life insurance do parents with minor children need? + A common starting point is 10–12x the working parent's income, plus expected education costs, plus mortgage payoff, minus existing liquid assets. Related - [Revocable Living Trusts](/trusts/revocable-living) - [ILITs](/trusts/ilits) - [Estate Planning in Your 20s & 30s](/estate-planning-in-your-20s-and-30s) Next Step ### Talk to Legacy Counsel. Fixed-fee estate planning for clients in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio. [Start Intake](/get-started)[Book a Consultation](https://cal.com/drewjacobs/estate-planning) Drew Jacobs is licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice or an offer to represent you in a jurisdiction in which we are not licensed. **Prospective Client Disclaimer.** Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not send confidential or time-sensitive information until we have signed an engagement letter. We will review your submission and follow up to discuss whether we can represent you. By submitting, you consent to be contacted about your inquiry. Estate Planning & Legacy Counsel Legacy Counsel by Jacobs Counsel. Fixed-fee estate planning, trusts, wills, and generational wealth strategy for high-net-worth families. 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All rights reserved. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. **Jurisdiction.** Drew Jacobs is licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio . Estate planning is highly state-specific — laws governing wills, trusts, probate, estate and inheritance tax, and asset protection vary materially by jurisdiction. We represent clients whose residence, primary assets, or business interests are situated in NY, NJ, or OH. For matters involving other states, we coordinate with qualified local counsel. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice or an offer to represent you in a jurisdiction in which we are not licensed.