Considering the undeniable fact of our mortality, it is surprising how many people delay or overlook the importance of estate planning, including the drafting of wills and trusts. At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., we know that the risks of dying without a will (intestate) or without a trust, compounded by...
Will and Trust Contests: How To Prevent Challenges From Unhappy Beneficiaries
Even if you have the purest intentions of providing for your loved ones when you pass and foresee a smooth transfer of assets, you should be aware that one disgruntled beneficiary who challenges your will or trust can destabilize the family. At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., our estate planning attorneys...
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...
What You Can Do to Avoid Trust Disputes
Although creating trusts serves many important purposes in estate planning, the trusts themselves can sometimes lead to disputes among inheriting relatives. At Surprenant & Beneski, P.C., our highly capable trust attorneys have been helping clients throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod successfully avoid trust disputes for decades. Since no one wants...
The Benefits of Preparing a Will
While most people understand that they will need a Last Will and Testament, a recent Gallup poll shows that 46 percent of American adults do not have a will. If you are one of this group, whether due to simple procrastination or unwillingness to confront mortality, now...
Test Your Estate Planning Knowledge
by Attorney Rebecca S. Spinner
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How much do you know about estate planning? How prepared are you and your family? Take this short quiz to test your knowledge and perhaps learn something new!
Question #1
True or false? You must name the same...
New Year’s Resolutions for Seniors
New Year’s resolutions are a way to start off the New Year right. Usually, they have to do with improving ourselves. Whether it is to lose weight, exercise, learn a new skill, etc. More often than not, the resolution only lasts a few weeks or a couple of months. Here is an...
Protecting Your College Student with Estate Planning
Despite the fact that once they’re officially an adult and you’re no longer legally responsible for them, most college students need guidance in navigating some of the legal aspects of adulthood. The good news is you can help your child with their Estate Plan, so they’re set up for the unexpected when...
What if My Primary Beneficiary Predeceases Me?
This question can be a troubling one. Although the odds are in your favor that your wishes will be able to be carried out as stated in your will and/or established in your trust(s), there is always the rare but real possibility that the person you intended to leave your worldly goods...