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 »
Posts Categorized: Estate Planning
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 »
Will a Spendthrift Trust Help Protect My Heirs from Themselves?
As a parent or grandparent, it is natural to have concerns about your beneficiaries’ ability to effectively manage money. Certain beneficiaries in Massachusetts might not be capable of responsibly handling assets. If you also have family members who might be trusted with assets and you’re concerned about mixing these heirs together in your estate plan,… Read More »
Living Wills and Health Proxies: Important Tools for Massachusetts Residents
Contemplating the possibility of future incapacitation might lead you to sit down with a Massachusetts elder lawyer to discuss tools like a health care proxy or a living will. Is There a Difference? Occasionally, people outside of the legal profession might refer to these documents as one and the same, but there are some important… Read More »
What Is Undue Influence?
Anyone crafting an estate plan has a vital stake and interest in limiting the possibility of future conflicts over the validity of the documents created. Understanding the laws that enable someone to start a validity claim case is the first step. One of the most common reasons to initiate a will or trust contest in… Read More »
What Will Long Term Care Cost Me in Massachusetts?
Some people are mistakenly under the impression that Medicare covers long term care services. Medicare does not pay for the vast majority of services under the umbrella of long term care. This includes custodial care, which is the vast majority of LTC services. Custodial care steps in when a person needs help with eating, walking,… Read More »