The death of a spouse is devastating. Too often, in addition to grief and loss, the widow or widower is overwhelmed by the number of actions that must be taken within the period just after the spouse’s death for which there is little motivation and even less available energy. This is when...

Prioritizing Your Estate Planning Goals
While it might seem that estate planning goals are universal, some apply only to certain individuals and families. Also, even though the basic goals of those planning estates may be the same, the weight assigned to each goal may vary. To work collaboratively with your estate planning attorney, you must be able...

Why You Shouldn’t Keep Secrets From Your Estate Planning Attorney
Attorney-client privilege allows clients to have free and open conversations with their lawyers in order to receive proper, well-informed guidance. At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., we are well aware of the conflicts and disputes that can arise when an estate plan is constructed on a foundation that is not fully truthful.

Decluttering Goes Hand in Hand With Estate Planning
At Surprenant & Beneski, we recognize that while estate planning is necessary at any age, it may seem more urgent as you age. Similarly, although decluttering is useful when you are young, there is more time to focus on it as you get older. While in the midst of a busy career...

Estate Planning Tips for Small Business Owners
Owning and managing a small business on a day-to-day basis is no easy matter. Too many small business owners feel so pressed for time that they delay when it comes to estate planning, not realizing that such planning helps to ensure the future of the business they worked so hard to build....

Asset Protection Strategies to Keep in Mind When Estate Planning
When you are involved in estate planning, a crucially important part of the process is protecting your assets. After all, unless your assets continue to be protected from the many risks that threaten your accumulation of wealth, you will have no estate to plan. At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., our estate...

Updating Your Estate Plan After Your Spouse’s Passing
Whenever the death of your spouse occurs, it is a life-altering trauma. At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., our capable, caring estate administration attorneys have spent decades assisting clients throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod in updating their estate plans after a spouse’s death. Contact us now so we can help you...

Can You Help Team S & B Get More Seniors Access to Long Term Care In Their Homes?
Update from Attorney Daniel M. Surprenant
The Massachusetts chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, (“MassNAELA”) has filed legislation to correct a significant problem facing our seniors. The problem is related to Medicaid, also known as MassHealth. MassHealth has many programs available to help seniors stay at...

Test Your Estate Planning Knowledge
How much do you know about estate planning? How prepared are you and your family? Take this short quiz to test your knowledge and perhaps learn something new!
Question #1
True or false? You must name the same...

Why Not Combine Tax Time With Estate Planning?
Since preparing to pay your taxes is time-consuming and requires thoughtful organization, it can be the perfect time to also work on your estate plan with a competent estate planning attorney. In Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod, the accomplished lawyers of Surprenant & Beneski, P.C. are eager to help you use the...