Lambariello Smith & Speed LLC

10/13/2026

LSS Law will, once again, be a participating vendor at Senior Expo USA in Piscataway TODAY!!!

Come say hi to Justin R Smith. We hope to see you there.

09/28/2026

Every year, the Social Security cost-of-living announcement gets treated as good news. Mostly, it is. A bigger check helps with groceries, with heating, with the small costs that add up.

But if you have a parent who's on or nearing Medicaid for nursing home care, that same raise can quietly turn into a problem. New Jersey has an income limit for Medicaid long-term care, and a routine cost-of-living increase can push someone just over that line, even though nothing about their actual care needs has changed.

It's a strange, frustrating position to be in. You did everything right. You got your parent approved. And then a number moves, through no fault of anyone, and suddenly their coverage is in question.

There's a legal tool built for exactly this. A qualified income trust can allow someone to keep their Medicaid eligibility even after their income rises past the cap, as long as it's set up the right way, ideally before a renewal notice brings the issue to light.

If you're watching this year's Social Security announcement because of a parent's care, it's worth having that conversation now rather than after the letter arrives. We'd be glad to help you think it through. Reach out to LSS Law:
(908)754-4500

09/19/2026

Thursday September 24, 2026 - 6:30pm

Featuring: Mary Kate Speed, Esq., Lambariello Smith & Speed, LLC

Protecting your Child for Life: Legal & Financial Planning for families with a child with Special Needs.

Please register in advance for this meeting using the link in graphic:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Please register in advance for this event!

09/17/2026

LSS Law was proud to attend the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, Inc. Convention!
Mary Kate and Justin were pleased to be there as an educational resource for funeral directors and families who may need guidance with Estate Administration and Probate.

We understand that navigating an estate after the loss of a loved one can be overwhelming. Our team is here to provide knowledgeable, compassionate assistance throughout the process.

If you or your family need assistance with Estate Administration or Probate, visit www.NJProbateAttorney.com
or call our office at (908) 754-4500.

09/13/2026

A lawsuit making news this week is a good example of what happens when a business partnership ends the wrong way. When musician Brent Hinds left his band, Mastodon, in early 2025, the buyout of his ownership share in the group and its related businesses was never fully signed off. He passed away later that year, and now his estate is in court, still fighting over what he was actually owed.

This isn't just a music industry story. It's what can happen to any business partnership when an owner leaves, retires, or passes away before the paperwork is finished.

A handshake, a verbal agreement, or even a check sent in good faith isn't the same as a signed, documented buyout. Until an ownership interest is formally transferred, it doesn't just go away. It passes into that person's estate, and the people left running the business are left negotiating with an estate instead of the partner they used to know.

If your business has more than one owner, having a clear, signed succession plan in place protects everyone, the business and the family left behind.

At LSS Law, we help business owners put the right agreements in place now, so a transition, whether planned or sudden, doesn't turn into years of uncertainty.

Schedule a consultation at www.lsslawoffices.com/contact or call us at (908) 754-4500

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years ago, our nation changed forever. On this solemn anniversary, LSS Law joins communities across the country in remembering the victims of September 11, 2001, and in honoring the firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and volunteers who ran toward danger to save others.

Their sacrifice reminds us that service to others is the truest measure of character. We hold their memory close today and always.

🕯️ Never forget.

09/10/2026

Gloria Steinem passed away this week at 92, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy and a reminder that “family” doesn’t always fit neatly into the boxes the law creates.

Gloria married later in life and became a stepmother to her husband David Bale’s children. She never had biological children of her own, and after David’s death in 2003, the family she remained closest to was a family built through love and relationships, not necessarily through the legal definitions that determine who inherits from you.

And that distinction matters.

In New Jersey, a stepchild does not automatically inherit from a stepparent simply because they considered one another family. Without an estate plan that specifically provides for them, the law may leave out someone who has been part of your life for decades.
We see this issue often with blended families, second marriages and families formed later in life. You know who your family is. But if your estate plan doesn’t say it, the law may reach a very different conclusion.

At Lambariello, Smith & Speed, we help our clients make sure their estate plans reflect the people and relationships that actually matter to them, rather than leaving those decisions to the default rules under the law.

Your family is personal. Your estate plan should be, too.
Call us at (908) 754-4500 or schedule a consultation through our website.

09/08/2026

LSS Law will, once again, be a participating vendor at Senior Expo USA in Piscataway on October 13, 2026. We hope to see you there.

09/07/2026

This Labor Day, Protect What You’ve Worked So Hard For

Labor Day is a time to recognize the dedication, hard work, and sacrifices that help build our families, businesses, and communities.

But there’s another important way to honor that work: making sure the legacy you’ve built is protected.

An estate plan can help ensure that the people and causes you care about are taken care of—and that your wishes are known if you become unable to make decisions for yourself.

Your hard work deserves a thoughtful plan.

This Labor Day, take a moment to ask yourself: If something happened to me tomorrow, would my family know what to do?

If the answer isn’t a confident “yes,” it may be time to start the conversation.

LSS Law: Protecting what you value most, during life and after death.

09/01/2026