Many people with concerns over asset protection and long-term care planning place their homes in their children's names to legally divest themselves of the asset. This may or may not be a good idea for you, depending on your unique financial situation, but you should...
How does the SECURE Act affect your estate plan?
You need to review your estate plan regularly. There are various reasons for this. One is that governments may decide to change finance laws. This could affect the effectiveness of your current estate plan. One recent change is the Setting Every Community Up for...
Why is a trust better than a will?
You probably know the importance of having a will in your estate plan, but did you know that trusts are usually more beneficial? While you can choose to have both legal documents, trusts offer some additional protections that you may appreciate. Here are three of the...
Massachusetts Senior Regains Home After Undue Influence
Saying that there has been “undue influence” is often used as a reason to contest a will or estate plan, but what exactly is undue influence? Is it only valid after a loved one has died, or can a claim of undue influence be raised while the person is still living?...
Why Your College-Aged Child Needs Customized Health Care Documents
By: Christopher T. Casey, Esq. We are living in uncertain times. So many of our daily routines have been upended in the past couple of months, and so many things remain unknown. One thing you never want to leave to chance is your child’s health. Now more than ever,...
What does a financial power of attorney do?
A financial power of attorney ensures that someone can take care of your finances if you become incapacitated. This is a legal document that allows the person you appoint to do anything that you could do with your assets and other similar matters. For example, your...
“Love is lovelier the second time around…”[1] or is it?: Intestate Succession and Second Marriages
By Sandra MacGregor O’Brien, Esq. It is becoming more and more common for people to marry more than once. While it is important, especially with later-in-life marriages, to establish a prenuptial agreement, the one thing couples seem to neglect is updating their...
Is it important to talk to your family about your estate plan?
Not many people talk about their estate plans with others besides their attorneys and significant others. They may not inform their beneficiaries that they’re included in a will or even give notice that a specific person will have an important role, like power of...
3 benefits you can get from using a trust in your estate plan
People shy away from trusts when they plan their estates for a number of reasons. They might think that trusts are unnecessarily complicated. They might view them as expensive when they actually offer a lot of value compared to the cost to create them. People also...
Ring in the New Year by Updating Your Estate Plan
2020, a year full of many upheavals, is coming to a close. Our estate planning team is here to relieve some of your stress to ensure there is a plan in place for you and your family. Many people believe the holiday season represents a point too far into the calendar...