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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
What is a CELA?
The National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) is the only national organization accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) to certify practitioners of elder and special needs law. NELF’s Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) designation represents confirmation of a lawyer’s exceptional expertise in the practice of...
In 2008, Congress determined that due to the importance and benefits estate planning has for Americans and their families, it was necessary to bring awareness to the cause. Since, the third week of October has been recognized as National...
For many parents, starting a family is anxiety-producing as well as joyful since having children makes them aware of the weight of parental responsibility. They may wonder how their family would manage if they were suddenly injured, became ill, or passed away. That’s when having an experienced, dependable estate planning attorney...
Probate is the process through which property is legally transferred when someone dies. It can be time-consuming, costly, and confusing, especially when the estate is of high net worth or is otherwise complicated. For this reason, many individuals and families seek astute estate planning attorneys to help them avoid...
