Losing your parent is an incredibly emotional experience. Add to that the fact that you need to manage their estate, and you’re suddenly in a position that can feel overwhelming. We’ve created this article to give you some helpful guidance. There are steps you need to take in the weeks that follow your parent’s death…
Continue reading…What is Probate Litigation and How to Avoid It?
When a loved one passes away and has left a will, their estate must go through a court-managed proceeding called probate where the will is verified, a personal representative is appointed, and the assets are recorded and then distributed according to the will. If someone legally contests the will (raises a formal objection), it’s referred…
Continue reading…What Are Probate vs. Non-Probate Assets?
Many people try to avoid probate because it can be time consuming, costly, and a general pain in the neck. However, in order to do so it’s important to understand what probate assets are. Massachusetts probate is a court-managed proceeding where a will is verified, a representative is appointed, and assets still titled in the…
Continue reading…Probate Administration (and How We Can Help)
When a loved one passes away in Massachusetts and has left a will, their estate must go through a court-managed proceeding called probate where the will is verified, a Personal Representative is appointed, and the assets are recorded and then distributed according to the will. The purpose of probate is to prevent fraud after someone’s…
Continue reading…Why You Should FINALLY Get Your Estate Planning Done
The start of each year makes us think about what’s important and what we want to accomplish. Protecting our family and maintaining financial security are top of that list for most people. Proper estate planning can help you reach both those goals. Here’s why you should get started on your estate plan: Avoid Probate to…
Continue reading…Revocable vs Irrevocable Trusts: Important Differences
Revocable trusts and irrevocable trusts are both very valuable tools in estate planning, yet their differences are important to understand to ensure you make the right choice at the right time. If you have done some research on Estate Planning, you have likely heard the terms “revocable” and “irrevocable.” The term “irrevocable” might be alarming…
Continue reading…The Future of Online Probate: Will Your Plans Stay Private?
Early in September, Ancestry.com launched a vast new program in which they made 170 million pages of probate documents and wills available online. If you’re a member of the site, you can now search through these documents and uncover the personal details of all the estates within. All of this might get you thinking about…
Continue reading…Estate Plans of the Rich and Famous: George Bernard Shaw
I’m sure many writers profess their love for the written word; however, few have backed up their passion to the extent of George Bernard Shaw. Shaw, the famed Irish playwright (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950) and co-founder of the London School of Economics, actually left a large part of his fortune in a…
Continue reading…How are Personal Possessions Distributed?
There are several ways that you can take control over how your personal possessions are distributed to your loved ones either as part of your estate plan or outside of the estate planning context. Often it is the personal belongings that hold the most sentimental value and sometimes monetary value as well. How these assets…
Continue reading…How Can I Avoid Probate?
Avoiding Massachusetts probate is often the goal of my clients who have been through the process before: they know best the headaches and expense involved. But how can one avoid becoming mired in the Massachusetts probate process? There are several steps you can take to keep your assets out of the probate court and in…
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