Massachusetts Estate Planning During the Holidays
Thinking about creating an estate plan may not be the cheeriest of topics, but it is one of the most important. And while you may not want to bog family members down with talk of estate planning during the holidays, the holidays are actually one of the best times to talk...
How to get out of Timeshare Ownership Obligations
In the 1970’s people were buying Timeshares; they were very popular. They seemed like a great investment; a way to own a small piece of real estate in a luxury location. A commitment to taking that annual vacation; family fun vacations for a seemingly more affordable cost. Now that the Babyboomers...
Tips for Succession Planning
The longevity of a small business depends on a well-thought-out succession plan. For a family business, you want to evaluate who else can run the business and whether you have to look beyond family members as the business grows. An experienced attorney can help the key stakeholders create a succession plan...
When to sell your parents’ home: The tax consequences
Let’s say you’ve known for years that you are inheriting your father’s home when he dies. Hopefully, he has a Last Will and Testament that indicates clearly that the house will go to you. Now let’s assume that your father is no longer living in the house and doesn’t need the...
What Happens if I Don’t Have a Last Will and Testament in Massachusetts?
If you die without a last will and testament in Massachusetts, your estate goes through probate and is distributed under state intestacy laws. That means the court, not you, decides who receives your assets and in what shares. For many families, this creates delays, added costs, and outcomes that may not...
Intestate Succession in Massachusetts
Losing a loved one is often a tragic, heartbreaking event for surviving family members. In addition to the emotional pain that loss of life brings, there are also a number of logistical questions that a death yields, too. For example, surviving family members will need to make funeral and burial arrangements,...
Estate Planning During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Massachusetts
The number of coronavirus cases is still growing, with the U.S. hitting record after record for the number of new coronavirus cases in our country. While it can be morbid to think about, for those who are high-risk individuals, creating an estate plan is one of the important things they can...
Seven Common Oversights in Estate Planning
Natural disasters, like Covid 19, are not something we can plan for; they happen at the whim of the environment. However, in the work that I do with our elder law and special needs team, I have learned that there are definitely things that can be planned for so that our...
Securing Your Pet’s Future with Estate Planning
Have you thought about what would happen to your pet in the event of your death or incapacity? Approximately two-thirds of American households own a pet, and while we have many people in our busy lives, our pets have only us. Pet owners often lament that beloved animal companions don’t live...
Maximizing Social Security survivor’s benefits
Social Security survivor’s benefits provide a safety net to widows and widowers. But to get the most out of the benefit, you need to know the right time to claim.
While you can claim survivor’s benefits as early as age 60, if you claim benefits before your...