The key to a successful wealth transfer is maintaining clear communication. Estate planning attorneys can help when you wish to involve heirs in the planning stages in order to make the wealth transition easier.
Open Communication
Lack of trust or communication has squandered 60% of family fortunes, which...
Estate Planning is like a road map. And while the map may be straight forward for some, for others there may be stops along the way. One thing is for sure is that it all leads to the same destination: peace of mind!
A lot of people put off...
Talk about life or death decisions: how your medical care will be handled if you are unable to express your wishes is right there at the top of the list. This decision must be made proactively if it is to carry any weight. After a traumatic injury or during an episode of...
Most of the clients of Surprenant & Beneski are happy to have their estate planning behind them so they can relax, knowing their loved ones and their assets are protected. This is why they are grateful to have our estate planning team to guide them as they make vital decisions. Without that...
Congratulations, you have taken the first important step and have made an appointment with a qualified estate planning attorney to create an estate plan or review an existing plan. You’re looking forward to the reassurance that comes from knowing that your retirement, your legacy, and your family’s future are secure. Now...
While there is no hard and fast rule about whether your children should always receive equal shares of their parents’ assets, it is usual for parents to divvy up their property equally among their offspring in order to avoid playing favorites. Recent surveys have shown, however, that many parents are rethinking this...
Middle-aged people musing on their futures often indulge in dreams of buying a second home that will serve as a vacation home now and a home base during retirement. But how realistic is purchasing a second home? Many financial experts question the assumptions that underlie the value of investing in more property...
Like so many other areas of modern life, estate planning requires the knowledge and skill of a professional. Therefore, the most important step you can take in this process is choosing your estate planning attorney carefully, based on excellent credentials, testimonials, and personal recommendations. As you will see if you do...
Choosing your executor (personal representative) is an important part of the estate planning process. After all, this is the individual who will be taking care of all the logistical matters surrounding your will and seeing to it that your final wishes are carried out. At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., we...
Sometimes for various reasons, a person doesn’t want to leave any property to his or her spouse. Massachusetts like most states has a law designed to protect a surviving spouse from being impoverished. The law allows a surviving spouse to claim a portion of the estate despite the provisions of the deceased...
