I am often asked when a Will should be changed. The answer is that a change in a Will is primarily triggered by personal circumstances. It is unlikely that there would be such a significant change in law that would require everyone to change his or her Will. Excluding the future federal estate tax uncertainty, most… Read More »
Posts By Author: adminPage 26
Estate Planning and Elder Law Newsletter: Special Needs Trusts
Every month I send an E-Newsletter that has articles on Estate Planning and Elder Law topics. If you would like to subscribe to my E-Newsletter, please feel free to sign up. The topic this month is the challenge facing parents of children with Special Needs. With a little advanced planning, a potential inheritance may be used to… Read More »
Pet Trusts Soon Possible in Massachusetts
On January 7, 2011, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed “An Act Relative to Trusts For The Care of Animals.” This law will finally allow Massachusetts residents to create legally enforceable trusts that can hold money for the care of their animals. The animal will now be able to be the beneficiary of the trust, with a Trustee… Read More »
Estate Planning and Elder Law Newsletter: Joint Ownership
Every month I send an E-Newsletter that has articles on estate planning and elder law topics. If you would like to subscribe to this E-Newsletter please feel free to sign up. January’s topic examines the potential dangers of joint ownership. For more information on joint ownership, and possible alternatives,here is an article I wrote in June 2010.
Massachusetts Homestead Law
On Friday, December 17, 2010, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a Massachusetts Homestead Law and FormsThe new Homestead law, scheduled to take effect in 90 days, will not only help homeowners, the new law also removes a lot of confusion surrounding the existing Homestead law. First, the new law automatically gives every Massachusetts homeowner $125,000.00… Read More »
ESTATE TAX UPDATE
At least for the next two years, things could not be much better on the estate tax planning front. On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed the “Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Jobs Creation Act of 2010,” which extends the so-called “Bush Tax Cuts.” The new tax law increases the dollar amount that may pass estate-tax-free… Read More »
Estate Planning and Elder Law Newsletter
Every month I send an E-Newsletter that has articles on estate planning and elder law topics. If you would like to subscribe to this E-Newsletter please feel free to sign up. December’s topic discusses the uses and benefits of Revocable Living Trusts.
Preventing A Challenge To A Will
In my last post, I talked about how Wills may be challenged. In this post I will suggest some things that you can do to avoid a potential Will contest. No one who goes to the effort and expense of preparing a Will wants the document to cause trouble within the family. In fact, for most… Read More »
Grounds for Challenging a Will in Massachusetts
A lot of time and thought goes into the preparation of a Will, and when someone signs it, they expect that the document will stand as their last instruction for how their assets should be distributed. They have every right to assume this. However, sometimes a challenge made be made to the Will. Although the… Read More »
Tips for Selecting a Nursing Home In Massachusetts and Nationally
It is something no family expects or wants to do. It may be one of the most difficult decisions a child has to make, but there is always the possibility that a parent or other loved one will eventually need a skilled nursing home. Moving a parent from home to an assisted living facility may… Read More »