When to Update Your Estate Plan
Life is not stagnant; situations change and evolve. Your estate plan should reflect your current status and expected future status and desires. There are many life changes and developments that might warrant an update, which is why it’s important to periodically review your estate plan with Attorney Patricia Bloom-McDonald. Below, we’ve...
Are You Single? You Still Need an Estate Plan
Many people believe that if they are single, they don’t need a Last Will and Testament or other estate planning documents. But estate planning is just as important for single people as it is for couples and families.
Estate planning allows you to ensure that your property will...
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...
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...
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...
The Importance of Keeping Your Beneficiary Designations Up-To-Date
The bulk of inheritances left to loved ones are usually not held in bank accounts, cars, and other tangible assets. Rather, they are tied up in retirement accounts (such as an IRA, SEP, 401(k) or 403(b)), life insurance policies, annuities, or employee benefit plans or stock options. A will does not...
Steps to Take in Advance of Death or Disability
No one wants to face the fact that our loved ones will not be with us forever. Facing our own mortality is frightening as well. Although none of us wants to contemplate a time when we or a loved one might become disabled or die, it is important to be prepared....