Melissa Miele Bracuti
MELISSA MIELE BRACUTI is a Partner and the Practice Group Chair of the firm’s Private Client Services Practice Group. Ms. Bracuti’s professional experience and areas of expertise include probate and trust law, estate planning, estate and trust administration, fiduciary accountings, probate court proceedings, trust litigation, will contests and other types of estate litigation. Ms. Bracuti has significant experience in probate court proceedings and fiduciary litigation matters. Her experience also includes guardianship proceedings and administration, disability and special needs trust creation and planning, business succession planning and charitable planning.
Ms. Bracuti is experienced in handling matters for institutional clients as well as for individuals and families. Ms. Bracuti’s clients include banks and trust companies, individual trustees and executors, estate and trust beneficiaries, and high-net-worth individuals. Ms. Bracuti has also assisted and counseled Universities in New Jersey with charitable gifts and legal issues and court proceedings concerning charitable gifts.
Ms. Bracuti has served on the Board of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association for 18 years and currently serves as Co-Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Bracuti is also a Life Fellow of The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, and a member of the American Bar Association.
Ms. Bracuti is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Northern New Jersey; the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section; the Morris County Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Section; and a member of the New York State Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Law Section.
Ms. Bracuti is admitted to practice in the State of New Jersey and the State of New York. Ms. Bracuti is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Ms. Bracuti is a former judicial law clerk to the late Honorable Peter B. Cooper, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County, Chancery Division, Probate Part.
Ms. Bracuti received her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Montclair State University, and she received her Juris Doctor from New England Law, Boston.
Listed in Best Lawyers® (2026), a Woodward/White, Inc. business and partners with U.S. News & World Report, in the area of Trusts and Estates. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
- Listed in Super Lawyers® Rising Stars (2009-2010), a Thomson Reuters business, in the areas of Estate & Trust Litigation, and Estate Planning & Probate. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
MELISSA MIELE BRACUTI is a Partner and the Practice Group Chair of the firm’s Private Client Services Practice Group. Ms. Bracuti’s professional experience and areas of expertise include probate and trust law, estate planning, estate and trust administration, fiduciary accountings, probate court proceedings, trust litigation, will contests and other types of estate litigation. Ms. Bracuti has significant experience in probate court proceedings and fiduciary litigation matters. Her experience also includes guardianship proceedings and administration, disability and special needs trust creation and planning, business succession planning and charitable planning.
Ms. Bracuti is experienced in handling matters for institutional clients as well as for individuals and families. Ms. Bracuti’s clients include banks and trust companies, individual trustees and executors, estate and trust beneficiaries, and high-net-worth individuals. Ms. Bracuti has also assisted and counseled Universities in New Jersey with charitable gifts and legal issues and court proceedings concerning charitable gifts.
Ms. Bracuti has served on the Board of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association for 18 years and currently serves as Co-Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Bracuti is also a Life Fellow of The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, and a member of the American Bar Association.
Ms. Bracuti is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Northern New Jersey; the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section; the Morris County Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Section; and a member of the New York State Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Law Section.
Ms. Bracuti is admitted to practice in the State of New Jersey and the State of New York. Ms. Bracuti is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Ms. Bracuti is a former judicial law clerk to the late Honorable Peter B. Cooper, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County, Chancery Division, Probate Part.
Ms. Bracuti received her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Montclair State University, and she received her Juris Doctor from New England Law, Boston.
Listed in Best Lawyers® (2026), a Woodward/White, Inc. business and partners with U.S. News & World Report, in the area of Trusts and Estates. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
- Listed in Super Lawyers® Rising Stars (2009-2010), a Thomson Reuters business, in the areas of Estate & Trust Litigation, and Estate Planning & Probate. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).
