What Should I Know Before Drafting a Last Will and Testament?
The process of creating a Last Will and Testament can feel overwhelming and may trigger feelings of anxiety and concern. Thankfully, working with an experienced Massachusetts estate planning lawyer can help make you feel empowered and protected. Before you sit down with a compassionate estate planning attorney to discuss creating a Last...
Reasons to Contest a Last Will and Testament
Even if your loved one left a last will and testament behind, there may be instances in which it can be challenged. For instance, if your father had dementia and added his second wife’s name to a bank account intended for the family, or your mother changed her last will and testament...
Are Handwritten Notes on a Last Will and Testament Enforceable?
This is a common situation: Family members have a copy of a loved one’s Last Will and Testament that’s been edited with handwritten scratch outs and addendums. Is it legal? Will a probate court enforce it? The answer is that it depends on several factors.
It is important to...
How to Protect Your Last Will and Testament From Being Challenged
The Last Will and Testament is one of your most basic estate planning documents. If you die without a Last Will and Testament (intestate), crucial decisions about how your property will be distributed and who will be the guardian of your minor children will be decided by Commonwealth of Massachusetts intestacy laws.
Celebrities Who Have Died Without a Last Will and Testament Have Taught Us to Plan NOW
Over the last few years, we’ve seen lots of stories in the news about athletes, musicians, and other celebrities who’ve died without a Last Will and Testament, and the ensuing court battles by families. While you may not be a world-famous celebrity, there are some really good reasons you should consider...
How To Prepare for 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 prepare for...
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...
What Happens if I Don’t Have a Last Will and Testament in Massachusetts?
Creating a Last Will and Testament is one of the most important things that you can do when developing an estate plan. Unfortunately, though, many people fail to make a Last Will andTestament before they die, either because they don’t think a Last Will and Testament is important or simply because...
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,...
It Doesn’t Happen Frequently but Last Will and Testaments Can Be Contested
There are reasons for a Last Will and Testament to be contested and one is the mental capacity of the client.
The best way to avoid a Last Will and Testament contest, is to have a well-written Last Will and Testament prepared by a qualified estate planning...