As many of my readers and clients know, continuing legal education and keeping up-to-date on legal change is important to me and more specially to my clients who benefit by it. I regularly attend meetings of the Massachusetts branch of the National Academy of Elder...
Month: March 2023
10 Types of Trusts: A Quick Look
Considering the myriad of trusts available, creating the right estate plan can seem daunting. However, that is what we, as estate planning attorneys, do every day. We know the laws and will design a plan which addresses your specific situation. Here is a look at the...
Three Celebrity Probate Disasters and Tragic Lessons
One would assume that celebrities with extreme wealth would take steps to protect their estates. But think again: some of the world’s richest and most famous people enter the pearly gates with no estate plan, while others have made estate planning mistakes that tied...
Three Reasons to Avoid Probate
When you pass away, your family may need to sign certain documents as part of a probate process in order to claim their inheritance. This can happen if you own property (like a house, car, bank account, investment account, or other asset) in your name only and you...
Have You Chosen the Right Trustee?
Whether you are reviewing your existing trust or creating a new trust, you should understand the important role that a trustee plays not only in handling trust matters but also in providing for and protecting your loved ones. What is a trust? A trust is an agreement...
Generation Skipping Trust (GST) Exemption
A Generation Skipping Trust (GST) is a fiduciary arrangement that is used to pass down assets and property to a later generation. A GST tax is imposed on transfers to grandchildren and more remote descendants that exceed the exemption limits ($12,060,000). The...
The Importance of Naming Alternate Agents in Your Estate Planning Documents
Establishing a Durable Power of Attorney enables you to elect a trusted individual as your agent to make critical financial decisions on your behalf once you are unable to handle your own affairs. Depending on the specifications in your document, these...