If you have been chosen as a personal representative (executor) of a loved one’s estate, this blog should be helpful to you in terms of understanding your duties and responsibilities. It should also give you an idea of the types of situations you may be faced with in this important role. The...
Lifetime Planning for Solo Agers
Often, we say that estate planning is about thinking about your family, but what if you don’t have family? Solo agers are a demographic that, although unique, are not uncommon. More and more we are seeing a widow or a widower, divorced, never married or an only child who has no siblings...
The 3 Easiest Ways to Avoid Probate in Massachusetts
By Attorney Rebecca S. Spinner
When someone dies in Massachusetts, anything that person owned individually will need to be probated. Probate is the court process by which the deceased person’s assets are transferred to the individuals who will inherit them. Probate takes at least a year and can be...
How to Ensure that My Children Inherit My Home
For most of us, our home is our most significant asset and we want to be able to pass it on to our children. Not everyone is aware, however, that there are several ways to do this. In order to understand which method is best for you, consult with a knowledgeable estate...
When a Loved One Dies
After a loved one dies, there are many issues which need to be addressed to wrap up the person’s legal and financial affairs. The following is a checklist of issues to consider:
The funeral home should take care of providing you with certified copies of the death certificate. The...
Estate Plans Should Be Reviewed Every 3-5 Years
Attorney Michelle D. Beneski, P.C.
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The following case study by Attorney Michelle D. Beneski illustrates why estate plans should be reviewed every 3-5 Years. The names and details have been changed but this is a real-life situation that came through our office...
Yahoo Finance Article: How Long Does Probate Take?
By Ashley Kilroy
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If you own any property at all, you probably know about estate planning. You can decide what happens to your assets after you die, of course. But sometimes, people don’t pen a will or trust before they pass. Or, if they do, it’s not clear...
The Value of Pre-Planning
Much like estate planning, funeral pre-planning allows you to give your loved ones the gift of peace of mind. They just won’t know until the day they need it.
Many families are comforted by the knowledge that their loved ones will be spared the hardship and stress of making...
CNBC Article: Estate planning for LGBTQ+ families is crucial. Here’s what you need to do
By Michelle Fox
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Everyone should have an estate plan. For LGBTQ+ families, it may be even more critical.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community are less likely to be married or they may have children where only one partner is the biological parent, said Gina Nelson,...
What is Probate and Why You Want to Avoid It
Probate is a court process to settle an estate after someone dies. There are two types of probates. The first is interstate probate. For example, if someone dies without a Will, then they are “intestate” and a court has to decide what happens to their property. The second type is testate probate....