Some of the most common questions presented to a Massachusetts estate planning attorney include: • What do I need to get started? • What is estate planning? Many people often view estate planning as the steps to enhance, preserve, and protect their families by conserving and distributing assets. Tools, tax considerations, and techniques are equally… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Estate Planning
Are You Leaving a Legacy with Your Massachusetts Estate Plan?
It’s difficult to talk about what will happen to your loved ones after you are gone. This sensitive and difficult subject leads to many people avoiding the topic of estate planning at all. However, this can unnecessarily expose your family to feeling caught off guard, confused or even mired in conflict if an unexpected tragedy,… Read More »
How to Get a Massachusetts Estate Plan in Three Simple Steps
Overwhelmed by the process of putting together an estate plan? Not sure which documents are necessary and which ones don’t apply to your situation? Read below to find out four simple tips to get on top of estate planning today and to begin protecting your future generations. Review Your Assets Do you really know how… Read More »
How to Avoid Family Conflicts When Planning an Inheritance
Approximately 1.7 million households in the United States receive an inheritance on an annual basis. But additional research has found that almost 75% of those beneficiaries have lost their inheritance within just a few years. What might seem like a financial blessing and important gift from you could come with strings attached, especially as it… Read More »
Use the Upcoming Holiday Season to Ensure Your Estate Plan is Up to Date
It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of planning through Thanksgiving and other holidays while missing out on the opportunity to update your estate plan. If one of your New Year’s resolutions isn’t to analyze your current estate planning documents and strategies, consider adding that to the list or accomplishing this goal before… Read More »
What’s the Average Probate Time for Wills in Massachusetts?
There are many different factors that can influence the time it takes from the filing of an official will to the conclusion of that estate’s time in probate administration. Furthermore, one important influence on the time it takes to probate a will is the personal representative’s diligence in completing this job. Furthermore, involvement from outside… Read More »
What Good Is Your Massachusetts Estate Plan If No One Else Knows About It?
Unfortunately, far too many estate plans have led to results that the owners never intended, and the sad news is that many of these stories could have been completely prevented. Plenty of the failures associated with estate planning in Massachusetts don’t have to do with language inside the will or the tax strategies implemented by… Read More »
What Must Be Done to Start Massachusetts Probate?
If you have been named as a personal representative in another person’s will, you need to understand the overall process of Massachusetts probate. There are many different important steps that need to be taken as soon as possible after the deceased passes away. The first thing to note is that probate must occur in the… Read More »
What Do You Need to Know Before Hiring a Massachusetts Estate Planning Lawyer?
The process of planning your estate might seem complex and long, but it doesn’t have to be. Creating legal documents like a power of attorney, trust or a will mean that many people turn to the support of a professional to guide them through this process. Estate Planning Lawyers Likely Have a Solid Background in… Read More »
Does Destroying My Will Revoke It in Massachusetts?
As the creator of a will, it is your responsibility to decide whether or not this document continues to support your estate planning wishes and concerns. If you make the decision that this document no longer reflects what you hope to accomplish in your estate planning, you can revoke it. One common issue that emerges… Read More »