Getting Started with Estate Planning

You've already done the hardest part — deciding this matters. From here, we will take it together.

Estate planning can feel like a big undertaking, but it doesn't have to be. At Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes, P.C., we've guided thousands of Massachusetts families through this process, and we know how to make it feel manageable, even meaningful. We ask the right questions, explain everything in plain English, and handle all the details so you don't have to worry.

What you will walk away with is something deeply reassuring: the confidence that the people you love are protected and your wishes are clear.

How It Works: Three Simple Starting Points

To make your first meeting meaningful and efficient, we invite you to take three simple steps. You can complete them at your own pace, from the comfort of home. Don't worry about being perfectly prepared. Answer what you can, and we'll fill in the rest together.

Step 1:

Clarify What Matters Most to You

Step 2:

Learn How the Planning Process Works

Step 3:

Consultation Prep Worksheet

Step 1: Clarify What Matters Most to You

Before you fill out forms or make legal decisions, take a moment to think about your priorities.

Who would step in if you could not make decisions?
Who would care for your children or grandchildren?
How do you want your assets distributed?
Are there loved ones who need added protection?

If you are not sure where to begin, we created a simple tool to help.

Take the Priorities Quiz

This quiz helps you reflect on what matters most and prepares you for a productive first meeting.

Step 2: Learn How the Planning Process Works

One of the biggest reasons people delay estate planning is uncertainty. They don’t understand what the process involves.

Learn About Our Planning Process

You will see how we move step by step from conversation to a completed plan, with clarity at every stage.

Our role is to shepherd you through each decision. We explain your options in plain language and make sure nothing feels rushed or confusing. You are never left wondering what happens next.

Step 3: Complete Your Consultation Prep Worksheet

Once you feel ready, the Consultation Prep Worksheet is your starting point.

Start Your Consultation Prep Worksheet

This helpful form helps us get to know you and your family before we meet. It covers things like your family situation, assets, and any plans you may already have in place. There are no wrong answers. Just tell us where you are today.

Learn at Your Own Pace

Estate planning is not one document; it is a coordinated plan. To help you understand what that means, we have created short videos explaining the core pieces. You can watch them in any order.

Foundational
Documents & Probate

This video explains the building blocks of an estate plan, including wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives. You will also learn how thoughtful planning can help your family avoid unnecessary probate complications.

Advance Care Planning

Planning is not only about assets. It is about people. This discussion walks through health care decision-making, living wills, and how to make your wishes known clearly and compassionately.

Trusts, Tax Minimization & Retirement Considerations

Trust planning can help protect assets, provide flexibility, and address tax considerations. This video explains when trusts may be appropriate and how they work within a broader estate plan.

Protecting Children,
Grandchildren & Other Beneficiaries

If you have young children, grandchildren, or beneficiaries who need additional protection, planning becomes even more meaningful. This video explores guardianship decisions, inheritance protections, and how to structure distributions thoughtfully.

What Will My Estate Plan Include?

Every estate plan we create is tailored to you—your family, your goals, your life. Here's a sense of what that might look like:

A Will-Based Plan

A great starting point for many families. This plan includes a Last Will & Testament to designate your beneficiaries and name a guardian for any minor children. It also includes essential incapacity documents, including a Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, Advance Directive, and HIPAA Release, so that if something unexpected happens, the people you trust are empowered to act on your behalf.

A Trust-Based Plan

For families who want additional protection and flexibility, a trust-based plan may be the right fit. It can help your loved ones avoid the time and expense of probate, keep your financial affairs private, and protect an inheritance from future risks such as divorce, creditors, or unexpected life changes. Specialized trusts can also be designed to support children with special needs, provide for beloved pets, or facilitate charitable giving.

Not sure which approach is right for you?

That is exactly the kind of decision we make together. We'll help you weigh your options clearly—without pressure, without jargon. View our Service & Pricing Guide for a general overview of what each path involves.

Why Families Across Massachusetts Choose Us

Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes has been helping Massachusetts families plan for the future for decades. We're not just estate planning attorneys; we're neighbors, and we take that responsibility seriously.

We guide you. We walk you through every decision, explain every option, and make sure you feel confident before anything is signed.

We listen first. No two families are the same. Your plan will reflect your values, your wishes, and your people.

We make it manageable. Our process is designed to be clear, efficient, and even enjoyable. Most clients tell us they wish they'd done this sooner.

We're here long term. Life changes. We stay with you as your plan evolves.

We are close to home. With offices in New Bedford, Easton, Hyannis, and Plymouth, we serve families throughout Massachusetts.

Ready When You Are

There is no perfect moment to start your estate plan—only the moment you decide your family is worth it. And if you're reading this page, you've already made that decision. When you’re ready, we’re here to help. Reach out to Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes to begin the conversation. Let's do this together.