An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust, or ILIT, is a trust specifically designed to own and be the beneficiary of one or more life insurance policies. Once an ILIT is set up and a life insurance policy is transferred into it, the trust itself becomes the owner of the policy. This means that...
What You Should Know Before Setting Up a Trust for Minor Children
When it comes to safeguarding your children's future, establishing a trust can be one of the most prudent steps you can take. At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., our seasoned trust attorneys specialize in assisting clients throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod in protecting assets and securing family legacies. Here's an informative...
Keeping Your Keys in the Right Hands: Trust Benefits for Real Estate in Massachusetts
Written by Attorney Daniel M. Surprenant, Esq, CELA, Managing Partner
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We know the pride and joy homeowners feel when passing down their treasured properties. But what if the transfer process could be smoother, more secure, and less stressful for everyone involved? Enter the trust, a legal tool...
Trusts Aren’t Just for the Wealthy: A Primer on a Power Tool to Protect Your Loved Ones
Trusts are often misunderstood as tools reserved for the wealthy, but in reality, they're accessible and beneficial for people across various financial backgrounds. They offer a unique way to protect assets, save on taxes, and ensure your wishes are respected, making them a vital component in estate planning.
Choosing the Right Trustee for Your Special Needs Trust
At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., our estate planning attorneys know that if someone you love has special needs, you also face special challenges. Our practice has extensive experience helping clients like you assist close family members in their struggles to lead productive, secure, and fulfilling lives. One of the estate planning...
Creating an Estate Plan: How to Protect Your Wealth and Prevent Hardship for Your Heirs
Written By: Attorney Erin L. Nunes, Partner
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Estate planning is the process of making arrangements for your assets when, and if, you become incapacitated, and after your death. It can help you ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, minimize estate taxes, protect your loved...
What Happens When Co-Trustees on a Trust Disagree?
Being a trustee is a serious responsibility. While having a co-trustee can mean having the skills and support of another individual as you complete the necessary tasks, when disagreements arise, being a trustee can become more challenging. If you are considering having co-trustees or are a co-trustee who wants to understand...
Have You Been Asked to Be a Trustee? Think Carefully Before You Agree
If a loved one has chosen you as a trustee, it’s important to explore what tasks are involved and how much time your duties as a trustee are likely to take. This blog will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision. Contact us for answers to the...
How to Pick the Right Trustee
At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., we have successfully established trusts for many clients in Southeastern Massachusetts. As accomplished estate planning attorneys, we are well-versed in the multiple advantages trusts offer in facilitating the transfer of funds, diminishing taxes, protecting assets, avoiding probate costs and delays, planning for incapacity, and funding...
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...