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...
A parent's guide to guardianship and responsible inheritances for children and young adults
By Erin L. Nunes, Esq. | Experienced Estate Planning & Elder Law Attorney
When parents think about estate planning, they often focus on financial assets. But for families with minor or disabled children,...
Financial abuse does not always begin with an obvious theft. It may start with a new “helper,” an unexplained transaction, or growing pressure on your parent to share control of their money. You can help protect an elderly parent by watching for these warning signs, limiting unnecessary access to their accounts, and...
Yes. You can structure an inheritance to help your child buy a home by placing funds in a trust and establishing instructions for when and how the money may be used. This approach can provide your child with meaningful support while allowing you to set reasonable conditions for the gift.
Yes. A trust can distribute assets over a beneficiary’s lifetime rather than giving the beneficiary the entire inheritance at once. With carefully written terms, you can provide ongoing financial support while giving the trustee direction about when, why, and how much to distribute.
This approach may be useful when...
