Crystal West Edwards

Principal

Overview

Crystal West Edwards is a Principal in the Wealth Preservation Group and has extensive experience in the areas of elder law, special needs planning and advocacy, estate planning and estate administration, and counseling.

Crystal is highly experienced working with the legal problems of aging individuals and those with disabilities. Crystal counsels seniors, individuals with special needs and their families with issues pertaining to complex estate and tax planning, asset preservation, eligibility for means-tested government benefits, fiduciary appointments and representation and advocacy. She is also a trusted advisor to financial institutions and corporate fiduciaries with judicial and administrative accountings and counseling regarding initial or continued means-tested government benefits eligibility for its trust beneficiaries.

Crystal is a sought after speaker and has authored numerous publications on the topics of elder and disability law, estate planning, special need trusts and government agencies. She is Co-chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and a Fellow to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).

Recognition

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  • The Best Lawyers in America® - Elder Law (2025); Trusts and Estates (2025); Litigation - Trusts and Estates (2025)
  • New Jersey Institute on Continuing Legal Education - Distinguished Service Award  (2021)
  • Profiles in Diversity Journal - Women Worth Watching (2021)
  • Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the ABA Accredited National Elder Law Foundation - the only African American attorney in NJ holding this designation.
  • New Jersey Super Lawyers®  (2019 - 2024)
    • Top 50 Women (2024)
  • New Jersey Rising Stars® (2010-2018)
  • New Jersey Law Journal - Women Attorneys of the Year honoree (2024)
  • New Jersey Law Journal - Distinguished Leader Award Recipient (2017) ; Top Women in Law (2016); New Leaders of the Bar (2014)
  • Garden State Bar Association - Young Lawyer Award Recipient (2014)

Memberships

  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) - Co-chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) - Former Member, Board of Directors,

  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) - Fellow; the only African American attorney in New Jersey elected to the College. 
  • National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) - Board of Directors, New Jersey Chapter
  • National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) - Past President, New Jersey Chapter
  • Diversity Committee, New Jersey State Bar Association
  • New Jersey State Bar Association - Elder and Disability Law Section
  • Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University - Diversity and Inclusion Trusted Advisors
  • Dickinson Law Alumni Society of the Pennsylvania State Alumni Association - Board of Directors
  • Garden State Bar Association - Past President
  • Life Member, Garden State Bar Association
  • National Bar Association - Member
  • New Jersey Women Lawyers Association - Member
  • Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services - Member, Advisory Board
  • Certified Elder Law Attorney by ABA Accredited National Elder Law Foundation
  • Cathedral International, Perth Amboy, New Jersey - Member
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - Member
  • Kean University, Union, New Jersey - Former Adjunct Faculty Member
  • Inperium of New Jersey - Board of Directors
  • Pillar Care Continuum - Board of Trustees

Articles

Speaking Engagements

  • "Gen X Divorce: Legal Insights and Strategies," New Jersey State Bar Association, 10/30/2024
  • "Estate and Asset Protection Planning and Bankruptcy," New Jersey State Bar Association, 2024 Bankruptcy and Restructuring Forum, 9/27/2024
  • "Elder Law Planning and Administration: Implementation of Elder Law Planning Through the Benefits Qualification Process," New Jersey State Bar Association, Estate Planning and Administration Institute Part 2, 9/26/2024
  • "DEI: Invisible Disabilities and Practice Management ," New Jersey State Bar Association, 2024 Elder and Disability Law Symposium, 9/10/2024
  • "Representing Clients with Diminished Capacity," American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC), 9/10/2024
  • "Invisible Disabilities: Can You See What I See?," National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) Online Annual Conference, 9/04/2024
  • "Future Mogels Investing - Estate Planning Session," First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, 6/25/2024
  • "Special Needs Trusts: Protecting Benefits While Providing for Beneficiary Expenses," National Business Institute, New Jersey Medicaid Asset Planning: A Practical Toolkit, 6/13/2024
  • "Invisible Disabilities: Can You See What I See?," National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) Annual Conference, 5/04/2024
  • "Wealth Building & Wealth Protection," Power Rising 2024, 2/10/2024
  • "Practical Approaches to Guardianship Issues," Porzio Webinar in Partnership with the JCC of Central New Jersey, 11/29/2023
  • "24th Annual Elder and Disability Law Symposium," NJICLE, 12/08/2022
  • "An Insider's Guide to Maximizing State Disability Benefits," 40th Annual Autism Conference, 10/21/2022
  • "General Taxations of SNTs," Stetson's Annual National Conference on Special Needs Planning and Special Needs Trusts, 10/12/2022
  • "Ethics and Professionalism in Today's Society: How to Discuss, Address and Promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Your Trust and Estates Practice and with Your Clients," 56TH Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning – Virtual Institute, 3/29/2022
  • Co-Moderated the 23rd Annual Elder and Disability Law Symposium, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE), 12/17/2021
  • "Do you see what I see? Invisible Disabilities," Porzio's Ethics & Eggs 2021, 12/09/2021
  • "The Ins and Outs of Law Firms: Entering and Exiting a Law Firm Partnership," National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Annual Meeting, 3/25/2021
  • "Demystifying Estate Planning and the Probate Process," Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., 1/16/2021
  • "Charitable Planning and Board Governance," Infinity Financial Ministries, 1/16/2021
  • Co-Moderated the 22nd Annual Elder and Disability Law Symposium, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE), 12/01/2020
  • "LEAP Career Forum: Trust & Estates", Metropolitan Black Bar Association (NYC), 10/14/2020
  • "Taxation of Grantor & Qualified Disability Trusts," Conference on Special Planning and Special Needs Trusts, Stetson Law, 10/13/2020
  • "Issues at the Crossroads: Where Elder Law and Family Law Meet", New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting, 5/13/2020
  • "Estate Planning: Wills, Durable Power of Attorneys and Advanced Directives", Webinar,  Essex County Surrogate's Court, 4/29/2020
  • Co-Moderated the 21st  Annual Elder and Disability Law Symposium, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE), 12/18/2019
  • Co-Chaired the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys' 2019 Summit, Washington, D.C., November 14, 2019, 11/14/2019
  • Co-Moderated the 20th Annual Elder and Disability Law Symposium, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE), 10/22/2019
  • Co-moderated the 19th Annual Elder and Disability Law Symposium, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE), 2017
  • Co-moderated the 18th Annual Elder and Disability Law Symposium, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE), 2016