"Sadly, approximately forty-six percent of marriages and civil unions in the United States end in divorce. Most people do not consider the effect that divorce can have on their assets, estate and family until it is too late. It is important to have one's legal affairs in order before divorce is even discussed. Without proper planning, a divorce can have devastating financial consequences for you and your family, in addition to the emotional havoc that is generally associated with the process. Pre-marital, pre-civil union and other pre-divorce estate planning, such as prenuptial or postnuptial agreements and trusts, can be essential to avoiding such consequences. -Myrna L. Wigod, "When 'I Do Becomes I Don't," On Wall Street Magazine
Ms. Wigod focuses her practice in the often-related areas of family law and trusts and estates litigation. During almost 30 years of experience, she has established a client-centered practice dedicated to assisting clients in obtaining fair and equitable results in both of these areas.
Family Law: Understanding that all matrimonial matters are unique, Ms. Wigod's family law services and experience range from uncontested and amicable divorces, which often settle through negotiation, mediation and other means of alternative dispute resolution, to complex, high-net worth and highly disputed matters. Ms. Wigod represents clients in a full spectrum of family law needs including cohabitation agreements, pre- and post nuptial agreements and all aspects of divorce, including alimony and spousal support, equitable distribution, child custody and support, parenting time, and child relocation issues, as well as post-divorce issues, including appeals and modification of alimony or child support. She has extensive experience representing individuals who work on Wall Street or their spouses, as well as owners of closely-held businesses or their spouses. She is well-versed in executive compensation, including restricted stock, stock options and deferred compensation, as well as alternative investments such as hedge funds, limited partnerships or other private equities.Ms. Wigod has also handled matters involving grandparents' rights, palimony, cross-jurisdictional issues and civil unions.
Trusts and Estates Litigation: Ms. Wigod has represented many satisfied clients in contentious, disputed or litigated trusts and estates matters. Her clients include individual executors, trustees and beneficiaries; charitable and other non-profit organizations; and banks, financial institutions and corporate fiduciaries. She assists her clients in achieving positive results in the areas of will contests and similar disputed matters regarding beneficiary designations, asset transfers and property dispositions, including disputes over capacity, undue influence, fraud and forgery; fiduciary accountability, including contested accounting actions and proceedings for the removal or sanctioning of executors, trustees, agents under powers of attorney and other fiduciaries; interpretation of trusts, wills and other testamentary instruments; and guardianship of incapacitated persons or minors. She has successfully resolved these types of matters through alternative dispute resolution as well as through litigation.
Ms. Wigod serves on the Family Law Executive Committee of the Essex County Bar Association, and is involved in the North Jersey Family Law Inn of Court, which trains young attorneys in the area of family law. She is regularly appointed by the Court to the Essex County Probate Early Settlement Panel to assist in the settlement of litigated probate matters.
Ms. Wigod has been recognized as a New Jersey Super Lawyer.
Memberships & Affiliations
American Bar Association Sections of Litigation, Family Law and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law
New Jersey State Bar Association, Sections of Civil Litigation, Family Law and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law
News
04/01/12, Myrna L. Wigod was extensively quoted in an article entitled "Legal Wills: How a properly drafted will can help ensure a smooth transition of assets upon one's death" in the April 2012 issue of New Jersey Business magazine.
10/01/08, Myrna Wigod quoted as a "prenuptial specialist" in an article entitled "Is a Prenup For You" in the October/November issue of Modern Bride Magazine.
Speaking
05/21/12, Resolving Estate Will and Trust Contests
Myrna L. Wigod
National Business Institute's Seminar, Marriott Saddle Brook, Saddle Brook, NJ
05/01/09, "Probate Litigation"
Myrna L. Wigod
NJ Institute of Continuing Legal Education
03/11/09, "How to Conduct a Harrington Hearing in Family Court"
Myrna L. Wigod
Essex County Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee
10/18/08, Mock Trial: e-Privacy, e-Discovery, e-Evidence - A Direct & Cross Examination of a Digital Forensic Expert
Myrna L. Wigod
ATLA-NJ Educational Foundation Meadowlands Seminar
05/02/08, E-Discovery to the Matrimonial Section of the American Trial Lawyers Association
Myrna L. Wigod
ATLA-NJ Educational Foundations's 2008 Boardwalk Seminar in Atlantic City
10/01/07, e-Privacy for the Matrimonial Attorney
Myrna L. Wigod
Mercer County Extreme CLE
Publications
02/15/12, Trusts and Divorce: Not Always Happy Bedfellows Analysis of the New Jersey Supreme Court's decision in Tannen v. Tannen
Myrna L. Wigod and Gerard G. Brew
New Jersey Law Journal, Volume 207, No. 8
06/01/11, When "I Do" Becomes "I Don't" Divorce Can Have Devastating Financial Consequences If You're Not Prepared
Myrna L. Wigod
On Wall Street and SourceMedia, Inc.
09/02/09, Building Effective Working Relationships with Attorneys
Myrna L. Wigod, Kerri Palen, CPA
New Jersey CPA Magazine
08/01/07, The Importance of Estate Planning During Divorce
Myrna L. Wigod
Garden State Woman 2007 Financial Resources Guide
08/01/07, Divorce And The High Net-Worth Individual
Myrna L. Wigod
Garden State Woman 2007 Financial Resources Guide
12/04/06, The Impact of Equality for Same-Sex Couples
Myrna L. Wigod and Alison C. O'Sullivan
New Jersey Law Journal
08/14/06, No Separate Residences; Cohabitation is required for a viable palimony claim
Myrna L. Wigod, Gerard G. Brew and Alison C. O'Sullivan
New Jersey Law Journal
07/01/06, Prenuptial Agreements - Planning for the Worst
Myrna L. Wigod
Garden State Woman, Issue 46
08/15/05, Courts Can Order Sale of Property Prior to Divorce
Myrna L. Wigod and Alison C. O'Sullivan
New Jersey Law Journal
08/16/04, Domestic Partnership Act: Adequate Protection?
Myrna L. Wigod
New Jersey Law Journal