Today, we will be celebrating the 14th annual National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD)! National Health Care Decisions Day is an initiative that encourages all adults to plan for the possibility of a health crisis of their own, bringing peace of mind for themselves and their families! It is important that health care decisions are done ahead...
Estate Planning Blog – Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes
TED TALK: The Strongest Predictor of How Long You’ll Live with Susan Pinker
"What does it take to live to 100 or beyond? The answer is not what we expect."
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The Italian island of Sardinia has more than six times as many centenarians as the mainland and ten times as many as North America. Why? According to psychologist Susan Pinker, it's...
Medicaid / MassHealth Planning for Long-term Care
What is Medicaid Planning?
Medicaid, through its state affiliates, is the largest single payer for nursing home care. While estimates vary, it is safe to say that Medicaid pays between 45% and 65% of the total nursing home costs in the United States. While on the surface, this may...
CNBC Article: How to get it right when naming an executor and filling other key roles in your estate plan
In addition to deciding who gets what when you die, you have key roles to fill that deserve thoughtful deliberation as part of the estate-planning process, experts say.In addition to choosing an executor — the person who ensures your wishes are carried out and that your estate is settled — it’s wise...
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What’s More Expensive Than an Estate Plan? Regret.
Failing to complete your estate plan may not be among the top 5 lifetime regrets but it can certainly have the same impact.
Estate Planning is one of these tasks that often fall under “discretionary spending,” and because it has the stigma of having to contemplate your own death,...
AgingCare Article: Estate Administration: Know What to Do When a Loved One Dies
The strong emotions that come with a love one’s passing are often followed by bewilderment when survivors realize all of the financial and legal steps they must take to settle their affairs. The spouse who passed away may have handled all of the couple’s finances, leaving the other uninformed and overwhelmed. Or...
National Institute on Aging Article: Aging in Place: Growing Older at Home
"The stairs are getting so hard to climb."
"Since my wife died, I just open a can of soup for dinner."
"I've lived here 40 years. No other place will seem like home."
These are common issues for older people. You may share the often-heard wish—"I want to stay in...
Kiplinger Article: 6 Estate-Planning Mistakes Celebrities Made
As if dying isn't bad enough, imagine your ex (your no-good, lying, cheating ex!) rolling in all the money you left behind. And, worse, your beloved family fighting it out in court to get what they can. Time to update your estate plan, right?
Indeed, outdated documents, beneficiary blunders and...
Situations that Make Having a Skilled Estate Planning Attorney Essential
In some situations, we can handle matters without calling in a credentialed professional. For example, many, or even most, of us can, prune a hedge, help our young child with homework, or bandage a small cut. Nonetheless, the vast majority of us would have to contact an expert to take down a...
MassHealth for Long-Term Care in MA
If you are over 65 years of age or have a loved one who is, you may be considering a future that includes long-term care. And you’re not alone: the majority of Americans will need nursing care, either at home or in a nursing facility, at some point in their lives.