When an estate in Massachusetts cannot pay all of its debts, the estate is considered insolvent. In that situation, the personal representative must follow a strict legal order for paying creditors, and some debts may go unpaid. Beneficiaries usually do not receive inheritances until valid claims and expenses are addressed, and in...
Estate Planning Blog – Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes
Don’t Let Your Dream Home Become a Nightmare: Understanding Life Estate Deeds
By Dan Surprenant, Esq., CELA, Managing Partner
Life Estate Deeds sound simple: You get to live in your house for life, and it passes directly to your children after you're gone. They avoid probate and can even protect your home from nursing home costs. Sounds perfect, right? Not so...
AI and The New Era of Document Preparation: Why a Human Estate Planner is Irreplaceable
Attorney Erin L. Nunes, Esq. Partner
The world of law, like many other industries, is changing fast. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, you can now generate all sorts of documents with a few simple prompts. The temptation to handle your own estate plan using a DIY AI service...
What to Do When You Inherit Property With Siblings
Inheriting property with siblings often brings both practical and emotional questions to the surface. Decisions about whether to keep, sell, or divide the property can affect finances, taxes, and family relationships, and no single sibling can act alone. Because every major choice requires agreement or a legal process to resolve a deadlock,...
Planning for Early-Onset Alzheimer’s or Dementia
An early-onset Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis often brings immediate legal and financial concerns, particularly for people who are still working, parenting, or supporting others. Early planning gives you the opportunity to put decision-making authority in place while you still have legal capacity and to safeguard income, benefits, and long-term care options as...
Why Adult Children and Parents Should Attend This Program—Together
By Erin L. Nunes, Managing Partner, Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes, P.C.
Every week, our office meets families who wish they had started planning sooner—or had a clearer understanding of the changes unfolding around them. Legal rules are shifting. Healthcare systems are under strain. Longterm care costs are rising. And adult children...
How to Handle Unequal Inheritances Among Children
You can leave unequal inheritances to your children as long as your estate plan clearly reflects your intent and complies with Massachusetts law. The focus should be on making sure your wishes are legally enforceable and structured in a way that reduces the risk of disputes later. Families are rarely identical, and...
Plan today. Feel good tomorrow.
A Message from Michelle D. Beneski, Managing Partner, CELA, LLM Taxation
Continue reading…
At Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes, we have always been about helping you "get your ducks in a row". For decades, this phrase has defined our firm’s identity, representing our commitment to helping families find order and security...
Can You Contest a Trust in Massachusetts?
You can contest a trust in Massachusetts, but only under specific circumstances and within strict time limits. Courts do not undo a trust simply because the result feels unfair. There must be evidence that something legally went wrong when the trust was created or later amended.
When a trust...
Meet the Legacy Duck—The Pride of Finishing Strong
We have reached the final week of Feel Good February! Over the last three weeks, we’ve secured your team with the Guardian Duck, organized your assets with the Treasure Duck, and ensured your personal care with the Comfort Duck.
Now, it is time to bring it all together with our final guide: The Legacy Duck. This week...