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Michael K. Feinberg
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Michael chairs the firm’s estate and tax practices, assisting clients in the areas of estate planning, estate counseling, estate administration, elder law, Medicaid planning, long-term care and special needs planning, and transactional tax planning. His work encompasses tax considerations, the structuring of wealth preservation strategies, and the preparation of estate planning documents such as wills, living wills and medical care directives, powers of attorney, revocable and irrevocable trust agreements, and special needs trusts. He serves as a strategic advisor to individuals, families, business owners, beneficiaries, executors and trustees, providing counsel on a comprehensive range of issues while striving to implement practical and creative solutions that address both current and potential issues. 

Michael provides guidance on the successful administration of New Jersey and New York estates and trusts, including the minimization of estate tax liability and oversight of the will probate process, and represents beneficiaries seeking separate representation from the fiduciary. He provides support related to tax and business planning for individuals, corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies. He assists clients with the formation of corporations, limited liability companies and other business entities, the preparation of buy-sell agreements, business succession planning, the structuring of real estate transactions including Section 1031 like-kind exchanges, and the preparation of federal and New York estate tax returns and New Jersey inheritance tax returns. He represents clients in tax controversy matters before the Internal Revenue Service and the New Jersey Division of Taxation.

As one of New Jersey’s preeminent practitioners in the niche area of elder law, Michael guides clients through the challenges associated with planning for nursing home, in-home or other long-term care needs, including the facilitation of a client’s eligibility for Medicaid and related government programs, with the ability to also consider the tax implications for the family.

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

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey, 1981
  • New York, 1982
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1981
  • U.S. Tax Court, 1983

Education

  • New York University School of Law, LL.M., 1982, in Taxation
  • The George Washington University Law School, J.D., with honors, 1981
  • Bucknell University, B.A., 1978

Recognition

  • American College of Trust & Estate Counsel Fellow
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (a trademark of Woodward/White, Inc.) in the Elder Law and Trusts and Estates practice areas (2006 – present)
  • Selected by Best Lawyers (a trademark of Woodward/White, Inc.) as Woodbridge"Lawyer of the Year" in Trusts and Estates (2023)
  • Listed in New Jersey Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters business) in the Estate Planning & Probate, Elder Law and Tax: Business practice areas (2009 – 2023)
  • Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rated AV® Preeminent (a trademark of Internet Brands, Inc.)
  • Recipient of the 2023 National Business Institute (NBI) Outstanding Faculty Award
  • Recipient of the 2021 Middlesex County Bar Association "Transactional Award"

Best Lawyers - Lawyer Logo Best Lawyers - NBI Distinguished Faculty Member

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.

Representative Matters

  • Advised the administrator of a multi-state $70 million estate, where the decedent died without a will, in resolving competing beneficiary interests and completing administration without dispute.
  • Advised the executor of an estate with more than 30 domestic and international charitable and individual beneficiaries, coordinating cross-border distributions and guiding the matter to final settlement.
  • Advised the administrator of a multi-million-dollar estate holding an interest in a closely held business, preparing New Jersey inheritance tax filings and securing state approval of a favorable valuation position.
  • Successfully petitioned for and obtained a federal and state income tax refund exceeding $500,000 on behalf of a decedent’s estate.
  • Represented beneficiaries in a long-pending estate administration, securing long-delayed distributions and recovering additional funds by challenging improper expense allocations.
  • Designed and implemented advanced estate planning strategies for a high-net-worth client, removing more than $40 million in assets from the taxable estate.
  • Structured a comprehensive estate plan for a family with a special needs child, creating long-term protections while preserving flexibility for other beneficiaries.
  • Advised a blended family on estate planning involving jointly owned real estate and retirement assets, balancing spousal support with protection of children’s inheritance rights.
  • Developed an estate plan for a closely held business owner with children in differing roles, equitably allocating interests while preserving business continuity
  • Structured asset ownership and financial arrangements for a married couple to preserve assets while qualifying a cognitively impaired spouse for Medicaid benefits.
  • Advised a family on long-term care planning for an elderly parent, implementing strategies to protect substantial assets while ensuring access to assisted living and medical care.
  • Implemented a tax-efficient succession plan for family-owned operating and real estate businesses, enabling the orderly transfer of ownership to the next generation.

Memberships

  • New Jersey State Bar Association: Taxation Law Section; Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section; Elder and Disability Law Section
  • Middlesex County Bar Association: Elder Law Section Co-Chair; Probate and Trust Section (former Chair)
  • Greater Middlesex-Somerset Estate Planning Council Trustee
  • Tri-County Estate Planning Council, Past President
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
  • New York State Bar Association: Elder Law & Special Needs Section; Trusts & Estates Law Section

Personal

  • Woodbridge Rotary Scholarship Foundation, Inc., Past President

Announcements

Seminars & Events

Strategic estate planning goes far beyond simple document preparation; it is a collaborative art form designed to protect your legacy against the unexpected. Greenbaum estate planning practice leader Michael K. Feinberg explains why a bespoke, high-touch approach is essential for identifying hidden risks and crafting flexible plans that stand the test of time. Discover how precision drafting and experience-driven foresight provide lasting security for you and your family.

Of Interest