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Michael A. Backer
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Michael brings over five decades of specialized experience to his practice in estate planning, estate and trust administration and fiduciary litigation. His clients include individuals, owners of closely held businesses, executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries. He aggressively manages will disputes, will construction proceedings, accounting and other fiduciary litigation for individuals and New Jersey-based bank trust departments. He develops wealth transfer strategies for high-net-worth individuals and closely held businessowners to help them achieve their estate planning objectives while minimizing transfer tax liabilities, including charitable gifting. He has also created many charitable private foundations for his clients. 

Michael counsels individual and corporate fiduciaries on all facets of estate and trust administration, preparation of state and federal death and fiduciary income tax returns, post-mortem tax planning and fiduciary accountings. Michael has served as an expert witness and is frequently engaged to mediate complex, contested estate litigation. He is a draftsperson of significant portions of Title 3B, New Jersey’s Probate Code, including The Prudent Investor Act, which significantly revised the rules governing trust investing, The Revised Uniform Principal and Income Act and subsequent revisions to the Code.

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey, 1969
  • New York, 1983
  • U.S. Tax Court, 1983

Education

  • Rutgers University School of Law - Newark, J.D., 1969
  • Rutgers University, A.B., 1966

Recognition

  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Fellow
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (a trademark of Woodward/White, Inc.) in the Trusts and Estates and Litigation - Trusts and Estates practice areas (1993 – present)
  • Selected by Best Lawyers as Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Litigation - Trusts and Estates (2025); and as Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Litigation - Trusts and Estates (2013 – 2014)
  • Listed in New Jersey Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters business) in the Estate & Trust Litigation and Estate Planning & Probate practice areas (2005 – present)
  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent (a trademark of Internet Brands, Inc.)

Best Lawyers - Lawyer Logo Best Lawyers - Lawyer of the Year Logo Best Lawyers - Lawyer of the Year Logo Best Lawyers - Lawyer of the Year LogoRated By Super Lawyers Michael A. Backer 2026

Please visit our Award Methodology page for a description of the standard or methodology on which these accolades are based. Attorney Advertising: No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Clerkships

  • Former law clerk to The Honorable Harold Kolovsky, J.A.D. (1969 – 1970)

Memberships

  • New Jersey State Bar Association: Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section Board of Consultors (former member); New Jersey Probate Code Revision and Reform Committee (past Chair)

Personal

  • Errington Foundation Trustee (2014 - present)
  • Montclair Art Museum Trustee: Audit Committee and Finance Committee (2011 - 2022)

Announcements

Of Interest