Salem Massachusetts Estate Planning Law Blog
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...
Have you funded your assets to your revocable trust?
If you are one of the few adults in Massachusetts who have visited a legal professional to start the process of making an estate plan, you deserve a hearty congratulations. Not only are you protecting your wishes for your assets and belongings, but you are also saving...
About transfer on death accounts
Massachusetts residents can include transfer on death accounts in their estate plans to help their beneficiaries avoid having to go to court to resolve issues with the estate. These types of accounts can be used to move assets without having them included in a will,...
