New Year’s resolutions are a way to start off the New Year right. Usually, they have to do with improving ourselves. Whether it is to lose weight, exercise, learn a new skill, etc. More often than not, the resolution only lasts a few weeks or a couple of months. Here is an...
Why Do I Need a Trust If I’m Not Wealthy?
Although many people associate trusts with having a large estate, trusts can serve several important purposes for middle-class individuals and families. The best way to find out if one or more trusts can be beneficial for you is to consult with a knowledgeable trust and estate attorney. If you live in...
Estate Planning Priorities for Singles
According to Pew Research Center, nearly a third of U.S. adults are single, yet in many ways this population is underserved. At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., our estate planning attorneys understand the distinct needs of single clients, and tailor our services to meet them. If you are a single person who...
Tips on How to Downsize When You’re a Senior
Moving to a new home, even when you’re excited at the prospect, is accompanied by a good deal of stress, especially when you’re an older person. So much to think about — selling, buying, leasing, or renting property, deciding how to approach downsizing, and trying to coordinate and organize the complicated physical,...
How to Avoid Estate Planning Mistakes
The two most important mistakes you can make when it comes to estate planning are [1] not engaging in the process at all and [2] not using a skilled, well-versed estate planning attorney to complete the task.
It is easy to see the downside of not planning for...
Estate Planning for Snowbirds
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once joked, “My parents didn't want to move to Florida, but they turned sixty and that's the law.” It’s funny because it seems like everyone becomes a snowbird once they retire. Thanks to old man winter here in Southeastern Massachusetts, a large number of retirees do flock like snowbirds...
Estate Planning Tips for Blended Families
According to Pew Research, more than 40 percent of American adults have a step relative and a sizable portion of American children are living in households with a stepparent, stepsibling or half-sibling. This is a statistic the estate planning attorneys of Surprenant & Beneski pay close attention to, since we are...
When Is the Right Time to Update Your Estate Plan?
Your estate plan helps you prepare for the future, but such preparation is based on present circumstances — and circumstances almost always change. At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., we remind our clients to update their portfolios at 3-year intervals to keep up with the changes that may escape their notice. We...
Changes You Should Make to Your Estate Plan After a Divorce
Divorce is a life-changing event, altering (among other things) where you live and with whom, the division of your marital assets, your finances, and how much time you spend with your children. You should also be aware that, in addition to all of the time-consuming, emotional effort that went into working out...
Why You Should Implement an Asset Protection Plan when Estate Planning
Do you ever wonder why “asset protection” is such a common phrase in estate planning? This blog is to clarify why your assets need protection and from what. To put strong guard rails in place to protect assets you have worked so hard to accumulate, you need a sharp asset protection...