By Daniel M Surprenant, Esq., CELA | Managing Partner
Your home, life insurance policies, and retirement accounts can make estate tax planning relevant even if you do not consider yourself wealthy. For years, rising home values and these other assets pushed everyday Massachusetts homeowners and retirees above the state’s...
A last-minute change to a will does not automatically mean someone exerted undue influence. A person can make valid changes near the end of life, even while seriously ill. But if the new will benefits someone who controlled access to your loved one or played a role in arranging the change, it...
The same vacation home can hold years of happy memories and leave your family with hard decisions about money, upkeep, and who gets to use it. You can take steps to help keep it in the family, though no estate plan can guarantee that future generations will want or be able to...
Erin L. Nunes, Esq., Managing Partner
When a health crisis or need for long-term care arises, families often find themselves making important financial and care decisions very quickly. Beginning January 1, 2027, changes to federal Medicaid rules will make early planning even more important.
One significant...
By Tammy Thacher, Senior Advisor, Oasis Senior Advisors Plymouth, Cape Cod and the Southcoast
Thanksgiving at my house comes with...
Medical emergencies do not always unfold the way we expect, and written instructions cannot anticipate every decision a doctor may face. A doctor may not follow an advance directive if it is invalid, unclear, inconsistent with accepted medical practice, or contrary to the doctor’s moral or religious beliefs.
In...
By Erin L. Nunes, Esq.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law in 2025, includes several provisions that begin taking effect on January 1, 2027. While much of the media attention has focused on tax changes, the provisions most likely to affect many Massachusetts families involve...
Why completing your estate plan before the holidays can bring clarity, protection, and relief
As the holiday season approaches, many families begin focusing on gifts, gatherings, and time together.
It is also one of the few times of year when we naturally reflect on what matters...
Yes, Massachusetts generally allows you to disinherit an adult child or another relative through a properly prepared estate plan. People may make this decision because of estrangement, prior financial support, concerns about how an inheritance would be used, or a desire to benefit someone else. However, surviving spouses and certain omitted children...
An estate plan often names several fiduciaries, each responsible for handling a different part of your affairs. These individuals may manage your finances during incapacity, make medical decisions, administer a trust, or settle your estate after death.
Choosing them deserves careful thought. A person who manages money well...
