Joanna R. Adu, Trusts Attorney in Somerville, New Jersey
Somerville New, NJ
Trusted trusts attorney serving Somerville.
Practices in
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Quick answer
Joanna R. Adu is an attorney based in Somerville, NEW JERSEY. The practice focuses on Trusts. Currently practicing at Lyons & Associates PC.
- Based in
- Somerville, NEW JERSEY
- Experience
- attorney
- Known for
- Trusts
- Handles Trusts matters from Somerville, NEW JERSEY.
- Recognized with Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Trusts and Estates (2026).
About Joanna R. Adu: Joanna R. Adu is an attorney based in Somerville, NEW JERSEY. The practice focuses on Trusts. Currently practicing at Lyons & Associates PC.
Areas of practice
Legal matters Joanna takes on
Joanna concentrates on trusts. Each area below outlines the kind of case Joanna handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
Trusts cases in Somerville, New Jersey
Joanna takes trusts matters in Somerville, New Jersey. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Joanna agrees to represent you.
Biography
Meet Joanna R. Adu — trusts lawyer in Somerville
Joanna R. Adu is an attorney based in Somerville, NEW JERSEY. The practice focuses on Trusts. Currently practicing at Lyons & Associates PC.
Ms. Adu is a Shareholder and Partner at Lyons & Associates, where she chairs the firm’s Somerville office and Trusts, Estates, and Financial Practice Group. Her transactional practice includes wills, trusts and estates, guardianships, business law, non-profits, family office matters, and complex discovery issues. With the variety of her experience, Ms. Adu also regularly consults on complex firm cases involving special needs children and sophisticated assets.
Along with her legal practice, Ms. Adu is active in legal scholarship having co-authored the article “The Coming of Age of New Jersey Mental Health Courts: Addressing a Dilemma in the Criminal Justice System,” published in the February 2023 edition of New Jersey Lawyer, among other articles for various publications on topics such as estate planning for LGBTQ+ clients and posthumous litigation related to high-profile estates. She has also presented at professional conferences and other public events on topics such as basic estate planning, special needs planning, financial elder abuse, attorney ethics, pet custody, and more.
In her personal life, Ms. Adu is the proud parent of a child with special needs. As a special needs mom, she brings to her legal practice an innate understanding of the issues and concerns of special needs families, including providing for their future care. Her work and unique perspective as a special needs parent were highlighted in an individual profile in the 2023 New Jersey Super Lawyers magazine. She also currently serves on the Boards of Eden Autism Services and SERV Connect, two New Jersey non-profit organizations providing critical supports and services to individuals with special needs.
Ms. Adu has been recognized as a New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Star in family law from 2020–2021, and in estate planning and probate law from 2022–2024.
Prior to joining Lyons & Associates, Ms. Adu completed a one-year clerkship for the Honorable Susan L. Reisner, P.J.A.D. (ret.). She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and graduated cum laude from the Seattle University School of Law in 2016. She is admitted to practice in New Jersey and before the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Working with Joanna on a trusts matter
Business, Estate and Financial Services Attorney Ms. Adu is a Shareholder and Partner at Lyons & Associates, where she chairs the firm’s Somerville office and Trusts, Estates, and Financial Practice Group. Her transactional practice includes wills, trusts and estates , guardianships, business law, non-profits, family office matters, and complex discovery issues. With the variety of her…
Clients Joanna works with
Joanna reviews new inquiries case-by-case for trusts matters in Somerville and the surrounding New Jersey area.
Credentials
Education, bar admissions, and languages
Seattle University
J.D. · 2017
Joanna studied at J.D. in Seattle University.
Law school and academic background
Joanna completed J.D. in Seattle University. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Joanna runs in New Jersey is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Recognition
Recognition and thought leadership
Joanna has received 1 formal recognition from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Trusts and Estates
2026
Legal awards and honors
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Trusts and Estates (2026).
Locations
Joanna R. Adu's office in Somerville
Joanna's primary office is at 76 East Main Street, 2nd Floor, Somerville, New Jersey, 08876. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Lyons & Associates PC
76 East Main Street, 2nd Floor
Somerville, New Jersey 08876
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Schedule your consultationHiring guide
How to hire Joanna R. Adu — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new trusts attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Joanna usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
Joanna charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Joanna's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Joanna will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a trusts attorney in Somerville, New Jersey
A short list to run through before you commit: How many trusts matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Joanna
Joanna discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in trusts practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every trusts matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Joanna confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
Joanna's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many trusts practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Joanna R. Adu
How much does it cost to hire Joanna for a trusts case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Joanna walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Joanna offer a free consultation?
Joanna charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Joanna's office. Some trusts attorneys offer free consults — check Joanna's current terms during booking.
How long do trusts cases in New Jersey typically take?
Simple trusts matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Joanna gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Joanna take my case if I'm outside Somerville?
Joanna is licensed in New Jersey. Matters governed by New Jersey law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Joanna will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with Joanna?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Joanna will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Joanna accepting new trusts clients right now?
Joanna's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
Trusts attorneys serving Somerville, Trenton and Newark in New Jersey
Joanna handles trusts matters throughout New Jersey. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified trusts attorneys in that community.
More counsel
Other top-rated trusts attorneys in New Jersey
If Joanna's intake is full or the fit isn't right, these trusts attorneys in Somerville handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.





