Salem Massachusetts Estate Planning Law Blog
Medical records release can be a crucial part of estate planning
An essential part of estate planning is making sure your end-of-life medical care lines up with your expectations, even if you’re unable to say the words. It starts with outlining the care you want, but you’ll also want to make sure those that need access to your...
Signs a loved one may need assisted living care
Some are often faced with the challenging task of caring for their aging loved ones. As some older adults may start losing their physical and mental abilities to perform everyday tasks, caretakers often have to step in and take charge. According to the NCBI, there are...
Are godparents the same as guardians?
Parents may want to find someone who can care for their child if something happens to them. Often, people remember hearing when they were younger that an extended family member was their godparent. While these figures can be both a godparent and a guardian, one...
Get the long-term care you need by turning assets into income
Crunching the numbers when it comes to planning your long-term care can be frustrating and confusing. There are rules and regulations abound, but if done correctly, you could secure long-term care assistance that you would never have thought possible. Terms for...
Challenges for those who administer a loved one’s estate
In Massachusetts, as elsewhere, it can be difficult to administer the estate of a deceased loved one. While there are professional executors out there who may be of benefit, especially when dealing with unreasonable heirs, one may nonetheless wish to handle the...
Who is the right person to be your health care proxy?
If you have accepted the challenge to create a comprehensive plan for your estate, you have quickly realized that the process can be quite complex. It often involves some deep soul searching to find the answers to complicated questions regarding the end of your life....
What to know about funding a trust
In many cases, a Massachusetts resident who has a trust won't necessarily need a will. This is because the trust has many of the same testamentary capabilities as a will. However, the estate owner should remember that a trust needs to be properly funded before they...
How to start the estate planning process
Estate planning may be an uncomfortable task to undertake. However, all Massachusetts residents will die at some point. Therefore, it is important to take time to determine how assets will be distributed after this happens. It can also be a good idea to think about...
Protecting heirs from themselves with spendthrift trusts
Some trust beneficiaries in Massachusetts are capable of responsibly handling trust assets. However, others are a bit more reckless with their spending. For times when a trust creator (grantor) wants to protect intended heirs from themselves, one option is what's...
Chronic illness and estate planning
Chronic illness affects more than 130 million Americans. However, many families in Massachusetts dealing with conditions like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's don't reflect this reality in their estate plans. As a person ages, their chances of being...
