According to the American Psychological Association, approximately 40 to 50 percent of first marriages, and 60 to 67 percent of second marriages, end in divorce. It is no wonder that many people involved in planning their estates worry about protecting the inheritance they leave their loved ones from being ravaged by...

What You Can Do to Encourage Others to Have an Estate Plan
According to a recent study, 60 percent of Americans do not have an estate plan in place. As National Estate Planning Awareness Week approaches (the third week in October), the attorneys at Surprenant & Beneski, P.C. are committed to raising awareness of the need for everyone to have an estate plan.

Estate Planning Awareness Week 2023
A Message from Michelle & Dan
This October 17-23, we celebrate National Estate Planning Awareness Week. This week is a time to raise awareness about the importance of estate planning and to encourage everyone to create a plan for their future.
Estate planning is not just...

Creating an Estate Plan: How to Protect Your Wealth and Prevent Hardship for Your Heirs
Estate planning is the process of making arrangements for your assets when, and if, you become incapacitated, and after your death. It can help you ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, minimize estate taxes, protect your loved...

Estate Planning Strategies at 35 vs. 65
At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., we understand the importance of customizing estate plans to meet the needs and goals of each individual. We also know that estate planning evolves as life changes, so estate plans must be continually re-evaluated and updated. Your lifestyle and plans for the future change with significant...

Estate Planning: Don’t Leave An Electronic Mess
Most people begin to downsize as they get older, partly to make their homes more convenient and simpler to manage and partly to avoid leaving an overwhelming number of unusable items for their children to sift through after they’re gone. Many of these same people, however, forget that their home in cyberspace...

What Steps Should I Take as a Personal Representative After the Death of My Loved One?
Being a personal representative (executor) is a serious job. It is also a stressful one since you have to perform your duties while grieving and perhaps overwhelmed by loss. Engaging the services of a skilled estate planning attorney is essential. If you live in Southeastern Massachusetts, the law team at...

Long-Term Partnerships Require Special Planning
Today, it is common for couples, including those with children, to live together without getting married. If you are unmarried and living with a long-term partner, you should be aware of the importance of estate planning in both of your lives. In fact, planning for the future may be even more...

Just Married: Do We Need an Estate Plan?
Marriage is not only an emotional and spiritual union; it is also a legal one. This is why newlyweds need to establish a strong foundation of legal documents to back up their recent vows. To do this, they need a capable, trustworthy estate planning attorney. If you have recently tied the...

Thinking of Naming Minor Children as Beneficiaries of Your Life Insurance Policy? Think Again.
Providing for your loved ones when you pass away is a major motivating factor in estate planning. Nonetheless, making your minor child a beneficiary of your life insurance policy is not a sensible way to do this. In this blog, we will consider the significant drawbacks of taking such an action...