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...
Estate Planning Blog – Surprenant, Beneski & Nunes
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Indeed, outdated documents, beneficiary blunders and...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.
Why 30-Somethings Should Consider Estate Planning
Estate planning, like building a career and deciding where and how you want to live, is a necessary part of sound decision-making and, as such, is taken seriously by young adults. By the time you have reached your thirties, there’s a good chance that you have chosen a career path, found a...
Kiplinger Article: 5 Tips to Start Your Estate Planning Today
No matter your age or financial situation, you need to be financially prepared for the inevitable.
Continue reading…
Estate planning can seem daunting and overwhelming. It may even conjure up negative emotions for some. Perhaps that's why an estimated 64% of Americans don't have a will or any...
Advanced Directives
Though many of us would prefer to avoid it, recent events have increased our awareness of the importance of Advanced Directives, also known as Living Wills.
An Advanced Directive is an expression of your wishes regarding your health care in the instance of incapacity and/or end-of-life decisions. If you...
Taking Care of your Aging Parents
It eventually happens to all of us: in some capacity or another, we find ourselves needing to help our parent’s. Some adult children are more hands on because of proximity and some adult children are long distance and therefore do more coordinating behind the scenes. Whatever your involvement may be, here are...
5 Reasons Why You Should Hire an Attorney for MassHealth Planning
Hiring an attorney to assist with MassHealth, or Massachusetts Medicaid, applications can save individuals significant time, money, and stress. Many older Massachusetts residents assume that they can quickly complete their MassHealth application. Unfortunately, the MassHealth application can be incredibly challenging. At Surprenant & Beneski, PC, our skilled elder law attorneys have extensive...