When someone passes away, heirs often assume their role is passive, simply waiting to receive their inheritance. In reality, heirs are often more involved in the legal, financial, and practical aspects of probate than they expect, especially if they serve as the estate’s personal representative or take an active role in the...
Estate Planning Blog – Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes
The Password Problem
By Guest Author: Michelle Cox, Owner of & Following Seas, LLC
We’ve all heard the advice: use strong, complex passwords. Include numbers, symbols, uppercase letters. Don’t reuse them. Change them regularly. On paper, it makes sense. In practice, it’s difficult to maintain.
The average person now...
Who Should You Trust? Picking the Right Trustee for Your Estate Plan
By: Daniel M. Surprenant, Esq., CELA, Managing Partner
I've seen firsthand that one of the most important decisions you'll make when setting up your estate plan is choosing your trustee. This is the person or company you'll trust to manage and distribute your assets according to your...
Fixing a Broken Estate Plan After Someone Dies
When an estate plan breaks down after someone dies, the options are limited but not nonexistent. In Massachusetts, you may be able to address certain issues through probate proceedings, trust administration actions, or by resolving disputes among beneficiaries. What can be corrected depends on the documents in place and the nature of...
Don’t Let Your Home Become Their Headache: Why Boomers Need to About Talk Estate Planning with Millennials
Erin L. Nunes, Esq., Managing Partner at Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes, P.C.
As a managing partner of a Massachusetts-based estate planning and elder law firm, I often see firsthand the profound impact—both positive and challenging—that inheritances can have on families. The impending "Great Boomer Bequeathment," where trillions of dollars...
How Long Does Estate Administration Usually Take?
Estate administration in Massachusetts typically takes 12 to 16 months, although simpler estates may be completed sooner, and more complex matters can take several years. The timeline depends on the type of probate, the assets involved, and whether any disputes or complications arise.
When you are responsible for settling...
When an Executor Is Overwhelmed: Options for Getting Help
Serving as an executor, known as a personal representative in Massachusetts, can feel like a full-time responsibility when you are handling paperwork, deadlines, and family expectations. If you are struggling to keep up, you do not have to manage everything alone. Massachusetts law allows personal representatives to delegate tasks and get help...
How Financial & Estate Planners Work Together to Guide You
Financial planners and estate planners perform different, but complementary, roles. Financial planners assist you in managing wealth during your lifetime. They help assess financial health and goals, review investment strategies, and help make decisions to promote future financial freedom. Retirement and portfolio planning exemplify valuable services provided by financial planners. During times...
Understanding Your Digital Legacy
By Michelle Cox - Guest Author
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We often think about organizing physical documents, like wills, insurance policies, and financial accounts. But today, much of our lives exist online, from email accounts and banking portals to subscriptions, photos, and social media profiles. Over time, these accounts accumulate and hold...
What to Do When Siblings Disagree About End-of-Life Decisions
When siblings disagree about end-of-life decisions, the first step is to identify who has legal authority to act and whether your parent left clear written instructions. In Massachusetts, medical decision-making typically follows the terms of a Health Care Proxy or other advance directive, not a family vote. When you are facing tension...