Visiting an attorney can be a big (and scary) step, especially depending on why you are there. You are most likely paying to visit the attorney (or at least taking time out of your day to be there) so here are some tips to get the most out of your visit. Know what you hope… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Estate Planning
Being Prepared Has Its Benefits
I talk a lot about being prepared here – having the legal documents in place so that your family and advisors can step in in the event of an emergency and make sure that your finances, health care and children are taken care of. It’s not that the chances of an emergency happening on any… Continue Reading
“We Can’t Decide On Guardians for the Kids”
This is, by far, the number one thing that holds up parents of young children on their way to the attorney’s office to get their wills and guardianship nominations done. I’ve had people tell me that their solution was to just wait until the kids turned 18 to do any sort of planning so they… Continue Reading
What I Meant Was….
In my line of work, I spend a lot of time with my clients talking about their wishes for the future. Who they want helping them, what kind of help they want, where they want their things to go when they pass away. I spend a lot of time making sure I understand completely what… Continue Reading
Planning for Storms – the Actual and the Metaphorical.
I’ve talked before about how much of my work is helping people be prepared for things that might not happen, that they hope won’t happen or that they realize probably will happen but don’t want to think about. In my law practice I use legal strategies to help people prepare for the future. With a… Continue Reading
How Does Property Pass Without A Will For A Married Person With No Children?
If someone without a Will passes away in Massachusetts, the law states how their property is distributed. When that person is married, but has no children, many people think that all property would pass to their spouse. But that’s not actually what the law says. Let’s say for example we have a couple named Carrie… Continue Reading
How Property Is Distributed Without A Will
Many people pass away without a will in place. When meeting with clients who have no Will I like to let them know how their property would pass if they died without a Will in place. This way, even if they decide not to proceed they will at least know what will happen, and explaining… Continue Reading
What Are You Waiting For?
After the holidays. When school gets out. Once school is back in. When I turn ____. When the kids turn ____. When I get paid. Once I make all the decisions. When I’ve had a chance to sit down with my spouse/partner/financial planner/personal trainer. When the weather is nicer. When the weather isn’t so nice.… Continue Reading
How Should I Divide My Assets?
A lot of times when I’m meeting with clients they will ask me “how should we leave our stuff?” They have children, grandchildren, siblings, parents, nieces, nephews, charities they like to support and they are having trouble figuring out what to leave to whom. Obviously, I can’t answer it for them so I give the… Continue Reading
Changing Guardianship Nominations
If you find yourself need to change the guardianship nominations for your children, there are some steps you need to take. All parents of minor children (and parents of special needs children) should nominate guardians in legal documents so that if the parents become unable to care for their children, temporarily or permanently, someone has… Continue Reading