Howard D. Neal

When Howard D. Neal put together my Trust and Will documents in 2011, I was very satisfied with his services.
My One Star rating relates to his having recommended that I make my Trust the beneficiary of my Roth IRA and Regular IRA accounts. That’s how we set up my Trust.
I just learned the serious consequences that would have unraveled had I never learned that Howard’s recommendation was very poor advice.
With the Trust as beneficiary of my Roth IRA and Regular IRA, my heirs lose the tax benefits they would have had enjoyed from these accounts.
So: I need to have my Trust and Will redone so that my heirs directly inherit these accounts. where the funds can continue to be invested and continue to grow TAX FREE. Moreover, the Roth IRA funds can NEVER BE TAXED. The Regular IRA funds will be taxed only as they are withdrawn from the account.

If I could give 0 stars I would. I don’t know how Howard Neal has gotten ANY high reviews. He is unprofessional and irresponsible. During a small claims hearing in which he was the opposing side’s executor of estate, I informed him that I would pay the judgment immediately (which I did), and he informed me that he would file the «Satisfaction of Judgement» with the court as soon as he received my check. I literally sent him a check that same day. He cashed it immediately, but never filed the Satisfaction of Judgement. I called his office a month later to see if he had finally filed the Satisfaction with the court. I had to call 3 times over the course of 2 weeks before I finally got a call back from his assistant. She informed me that the Satisfaction of Judgement had been filed. I asked her to please send me a copy of the form that was filed with the court. I never got it. So, I called again 3 weeks later. I never got a call back. I called again 2 days after that. No call back. I’m in the process of purchasing a home, and on Thursday, I got a call from my broker, informing me that a Lien is now appearing on my credit report due to the «Judgement Not Satisfied» status of the small claims ruling. I immediately called Mr. Neal and asked him to PLEASE call me back as soon as possible to discuss the form that he was supposed to file with the court almost 3 months ago (!) It is now Monday night and do you think Mr. Neal has called me back? NOPE! If you want a professional, ethical, responsible lawyer who will at least respond to your urgent calls, DO NOT go with Howard Neal!!!

Just met with Mr. Neal this week on a probate issue after my Dad passed away. I was able to have all my questions answered fully and in a way that made sense to me. ALSO, Mr. Neal got back to me asap after I made my initial inquiry which was a great relief. He’s been in the Montclair area for decades and has a great reputation here. I would highly recommend!

I had heard great things about Howard Neal for a year or so as a fellow member of a neighborhood business networking group. When it came time for my wife and I to get serious about estate planning, we contacted Howard’s office. Not only was he thorough and precise, but he explained every step of the process (once for my attorney wife, and several times for me). Howard knows estate planning and trusts, and we sleep a bit better at night knowing our affairs are in order. Many thanks, Howard.