Estate planning mistakes are all too common. The best way of avoiding them is to engage the services of a highly qualified estate planning attorney. If you live in Southeastern Massachusetts or Cape Cod, Surprenant & Beneski, P.C. has several talented attorneys well-prepared to assist you. Each of us is adept...

At Surprenant & Beneski, You Get the Best of the Team Approach
Consulting an attorney may seem like a daunting move that comes with many questions. Who do you consult? How do you know you’re getting the best advice? Who should you trust?
The team approach at Surprenant & Beneski,...

AgingCare Article: How to Handle Social Security Benefits When a Senior Dies
One aspect of managing a loved one’s final affairs that most people aren’t familiar with is how to handle their last Social Security retirement benefits check. Surviving family members often incorrectly assume that the estate is entitled to keep the beneficiary’s final payment or that it can be spent on things like...

MarketWatch Article: How to talk about estate planning with your family this holiday season without starting a fight
By: Nora Garvey
Taking the emotions out of death and financesAs families gather for the holidays, talking about long-term financial security and trusts may not be top of mind. Death and finances are often two of the most uncomfortable topics for families to talk...

NY Times Article: With Adult Children Home, Now’s the Time: Talk About Your Money
By John F. Wasik
Riding out the pandemic with family presents the perfect chance to lay it all out: priorities, account balances, end-of-life directives.
For far too many families, financial planning is akin to scheduling dental surgery. The prospect of pain and discomfort prompts many to...

Kiplinger Article: Estate Planning Is More Important Than You Think
by: Carlos Dias Jr., Wealth Adviser
An estate plan is a necessary tool that allows...

ElderLawAnswers Article: The Coronavirus Pandemic Presents Ample Reasons to Reevaluate Your Estate Plan
The coronavirus health emergency is a reminder that life is unpredictable, and it makes sense to be prepared. It may sound self-serving, but the threats to life and finances posed by the pandemic offer ample reason to reevaluate your estate plan -- or create one if you haven't already.

Kiplinger Article: A Guide to the Softer Side of Estate Planning

NerdWallet Article: Estate Planning: A 7-Step Checklist of the Basics
You don’t have to be rich to need estate planning. Your estate includes everything you own, and it can be any size, which is why...

10 Estate Planning Problems That Could Cost You a Fortune
As Certified Elder Law Attorneys by the National Elder Law Foundation, we see a lot of mistakes that people have made before they come to see us. Most are correctable. Some are not. Here are some areas in which you could save your family some anguish and money.
Problem...