At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., our trust attorneys have extensive experience drafting and executing trusts for clients throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod. Trusts may be testamentary, revocable, or irrevocable. Their purposes are variable — e.g. avoiding probate or excessive taxation, protecting individuals with special needs, and providing for charitable contributions....
Estate Planning Blog – Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes
USA Today Article: What people with disabilities and their families wish fellow travelers would know and do
Linda Williams doesn't make dinner reservations the way most of us do.
She makes a point to ask others about their accessibility needs first. The clinical psychologist and founder and CEO of Invisible Disability Project knows
more than 1 in 4 U.S. adults have some kind...
AARP Article: How To Succeed at Weight Loss After Age 50
Tactics for mastering your metabolism and shaving off those extra pounds
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It's not your imagination. Losing weight after age 50 really is more challenging. The reasons are a mix of lifestyle and physiological factors that combine to make dropping a few pounds more onerous than it was at 35...
Life Estate Deeds vs. Irrevocable Trusts for Medicaid Protection
Written By: Attorney Rebecca S. Spinner, Esq.
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Many of the people we meet with come in looking to get help protecting their assets from the costs of long-term care. For most people, their home is their largest asset and the property they most wish to...
Can My Parent Who Has Dementia Sign a Legal Document?
When a loved one begins to show signs of dementia, one of the first questions many families ask is: “Can they still sign legal documents?” The answer depends on the person’s mental capacity at the time the document is signed. In Massachusetts, mental capacity isn’t judged by diagnosis alone—it’s about whether your...
Estate Planning Is Not a Scary Proposition
The number one reason many people do not have estate plans is that they are frightened by the thought of discussing a future that includes their own mortality. They need not worry. Estate planning is anything but anxiety-producing. When handled by competent professionals like the estate planning attorneys of Surprenant & Beneski,...
What if My Primary Beneficiary Predeceases Me?
This question can be a troubling one. Although the odds are in your favor that your wishes will be able to be carried out as stated in your will and/or established in your trust(s), there is always the rare but real possibility that the person you intended to leave your worldly goods...
What Should I Bring to My First Meeting with my Estate Planning Attorney?
If you are overwhelmed by the thought of gathering the details and documents necessary for your first meeting with an estate planning attorney, take a deep breath. An experienced professional in the field will put you at ease, whether you’ve done any previous homework or not. It’s a good idea, however, to...
AARP Article: 8 Things You Didn’t Know Social Security Could Do for You
The array of surprising and useful services goes beyond monthly checks
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For many people, Social Security's function begins and ends with a monthly payment. And to be sure, ensuring benefits get delivered on time and in full to tens of millions of older adults, people with disabilities and members...
Why Estate Planning is Important
Daniel M. Surprenant, Managing Partner, CELA
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Essentially, estate planning is the process of determining, through legal guidance and documents, who will receive your hard-earned assets. Estate planning is very important because it also determines how your life savings, home and personal items will be spent or saved during...