Anthony R. La Ratta

Partner

Overview

Tony concentrates his practice in the area of Trust & Estate litigation, with an emphasis in litigation involving probate matters, estates, trusts, guardianships, and fiduciaries.

Tony has represented institutions and individuals in a variety of contexts, including banks, corporate fiduciaries, executors, trustees, beneficiaries of estates and trusts, incapacitated persons, surviving spouses, and intestate heirs. He has handled cases involving will contests, undue influence, diminished capacity, contested guardianships, writings intended as wills, breach of fiduciary duty, and accountings of estates and trusts.

Tony is also admitted by the State of New Jersey to the roster of court-approved mediators for probate cases and has been appointed by the courts to assist in resolving such disputes through mediation.

Tony served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Joseph C. Visalli (Ret.), Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Cape May County.

Representative Experience

Representing corporate and individual fiduciaries in actions brought by beneficiaries concerning the administration of estates and trusts.
Representing will contestants in disputes over the validity of wills, based on undue influence, lack of testamentary capacity, and similar grounds.
Handling accounting actions and exceptions thereto.

"Dealing with Marginal Capacity: Navigating Problems Facing Independent Adults in Cognitive Decline," American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust and Estates Law Annual RPTE National CLE Conference (April 2025)
15th Annual Probate Symposium," NJICLE/NJSBA Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section (October 2024)
“Estate Litigation Update,” Mercer County Bar Association Xtreme CLE (October 2024)
"New Estate & Trust Litigation Cases," Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey (October 2024)
"Developing Trends in Probate Law & the Exercise of Judicial Discretion in the Surrogates’ Courts: Understanding the Unique Position of the Surrogate in the New Jersey Judiciary and the Statutes, Cases and Court Rules Which Guide the Operation of the Surrogates’ Courts and the Exercise of Judicial Discretion," Surrogate’s Section’s Annual Convention, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey (September 2023)
"Annual Estate Litigation Seminar," Archer & Greiner (2013-2014, 2018, 2022-2023)
"Recent Developments Facing the Legal and Banking Communities," 35th Annual Real Property, Trust and Estate Law’s National CLE Conference, American Bar Association (May 2023)
"Hot Trends in Probate Litigation," Camden County Bar Association (2003- 2023)
"The Steve & Tony & Friends Show,” 21st Annual Forum: Hot Trends in Estate Litigation, Camden County Bar Association (February 2023)
“Hot Trends in Probate Litigation,” Burlington County Bar Association (2007, 2011-2014, 2021-2022)
"Annual Latest Trends in Estate Litigation," NJICLE (2009 - 2021)
"It’s a World of Tears and a World of Fears: Crisis Management of Estates," Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Spring Symposia, American Bar Association (May 2018)
"Estate and Trust Fiduciary Litigation: Minimizing and Defending Breach of Duty Claims," Strafford (August 2015)
"Recent Developments in New Jersey Law: 2015 Update," NJICLE (July 2015)
"Writings Intended as Wills," CMCBA / Cape May Court House (March 2015)
"Writing Intended as Wills," NCPJ (November 2014)
"Potential Ethical Pitfalls of Estate Practice," CMCBA / Cape May Court House (October 2014)
"Developing Trends in Probate Litigation," COANJ (September 2014)
"Anatomy of a Will Contest: How to Succeed at Trial," Lorman (August 2014)
"What PA Lawyers Need to Know about NJ Estate Practice," PBI (August 2014)
"Estate and Trust Fiduciary Litigation: Minimizing and Defending Breach of Duty Claims," Strafford (July 2014)
"Contested Guardianships: Effective Strategies To Quickly and Confidently Handle These Challenging Situations," NJSBA (July 2014)
"Recent Developments in New Jersey Law: 2014 Update," NJSBA (July 2014)
"Preparing And Trying An Undue Influence Case," ABA (June 2014)
"Ethics CLE Series: Part 1," NJICLE (April 2014)
"Anatomy of a Will Contest: How to Succeed at Trial," Lorman (February 2014)
"Trust & Probate Challenges: Minimizing and Litigating Claims of Undue Influence, Fraud, Capacity, and Mistakes," Strafford (January 2014)
"Special Situations in Estate Administration," NJICLE (January 2014)
"What Pennsylvania Lawyers Need to Know About NJ Estate Practice," PBI (March 2014)

Credentials

Education

Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, JD
La Salle University, BA, maxima cum laude

Admissions

New Jersey
Pennsylvania
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Offices

Voorhees, NJ

Areas of Focus

View All Archer Services

Practice

News & Insights

View All

Dealing with Marginal Capacity: Navigating Problems Facing Independent Adults in Cognitive Decline

04.30.2025

Speaking Engagements & Seminars

Dealing with Marginal Capacity: Navigating Problems Facing Independent Adults in Cognitive Decline

Anthony La Ratta will be presenting the program “Dealing with Marginal Capacity: Navigating Problems Facing Independent Adults in Cognitive Decline,” at the American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Annual RPTE National CLE Conference. ...

Learn more

09.25.2024

Speaking Engagements & Seminars

12th Annual Estate Litigation Seminar

Join Archer's Estate & Trust Litigation Group for our annual complimentary estate litigation seminar. Archer attorneys and guest speakers will present a review of new case law and other significant developments on trust, estate and fiduciary litigation from the region and around the country.Date & Time:September 25, 2024 (in-person)8:00 AM - 1:00 PMLocation:...

Learn more

Anthony La Ratta Reappointed as Vice-Chair of Jefferson Health Foundation New Jersey Board

07.26.2024

Press Releases

Anthony La Ratta Reappointed as Vice-Chair of Jefferson Health Foundation New Jersey Board

Archer partner, Anthony R. La Ratta, was reappointed as Vice-Chair of the Jefferson Health Foundation – New Jersey Board. His one-year term will run to June 30, 2025. The mission of the Jefferson Health Foundation – New Jersey is to improve the lives of patients and their families in the community, and to transform the health care experience through a culture of caring, quality and innovation....

Learn more