Stephen J. Pagano, a Partner with the Firm, practices in Riker Danzig’s Tax and Trusts and Estates Department. He concentrates his practice in the areas of probate litigation and tax, trusts and estates matters. Stephen utilizes his knowledge from years of estate, trust and tax planning to provide insight and strategy in probate litigation matters.
In addition, Stephen’s experience with probate litigation gives him a unique and advantageous perspective in planning for the Firm’s individual and business clients. Stephen also represents clients seeking to protect loved ones in guardianship proceedings pending before the New Jersey Superior Court and has received court appointments as counsel and guardian in such matters.
Stephen practices in the Firm’s Corporate Department, where he counsels closely held businesses on a variety of corporate matters. He routinely assists clients in planning the succession of their business to the next generation of leadership. Stephen works closely with clients to learn their business, anticipate issues, and act as a trusted advisor.
Stephen serves as a Board Member for the Monmouth Park Charity Fund, which raises and distributes funds to nonprofit agencies in Monmouth County that provide services related to health, those at risk in the community, and those in need of special services.
Stephen is a graduate of the Monmouth County Haydn Proctor Inn of Court. He frequently speaks on probate and estate planning topics. He has presented at the New Jersey State Bar Association’s annual convention on gift and estate taxes, to the NJ Bankers Association on fiduciary law issues, and has attended to multiple other speaking engagements.
Stephen is also a contributing author for LexisNexis Practice Advisors, providing his insights on estate planning topics to legal practitioners around the country.
Stephen received a J.D., cum laude, from Seton Hall University School of Law, where he was a member of the Seton Hall Sports and Entertainment Law Journal. He earned a B.A. in Sociology from Boston College. He completed his LL.M. in Tax Law at New York University School of Law. Stephen is admitted to practice in both New Jersey and New York.
