Although revocable trusts are the centerpiece for many estate plans, many clients are confused by what amount of their deposit accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Company. To make the rules easier to... Read more »
The pandemic has had a long-lasting influence on our culture, including encouraging relocation at previously unheard-of levels. Imagine the surprise of a recently relocated retiree who discovers that their previously untaxed Social Security benefits are... Read more »
It may be possible to double your gifting by using spousal “gift-splitting.” Spouses may elect to split gifts made to others. If they do so, they must split all the gifts made by the other... Read more »
You’ve been named Successor Trustee of someone else’s estate… …and that person is now deceased. You may or may not have known about your nomination for that position. But in any case, after you have... Read more »
More and more families own property, assets, and businesses together. Using an entity to govern operations provides stability by allowing continued operation upon the death of an owner. When the governing agreement and estate planning... Read more »
Many people we see have Wills and other legal documents that were prepared in the 1990s. We begin to talk, and they say, “Yes, I have a Will and a Health Care Proxy…” I ask... Read more »
As loved ones and parents age, they become more vulnerable to fraudulent schemes. This article explores how a solid estate plan can help protect the elderly from becoming victims. Read on to learn more. Read more »
During times of high stress such as tragedy or emergency, we tend to feel helpless. This article explores how a comprehensive estate plan helps reduce anxiety in uncertain times. Read more »
If you have married someone and your spouse has children from a different relationship, those are your step-children. Even if you have helped raise the child from a very young age, unless you have adopted... Read more »
When you prepare your estate plan, typically there are formalities required. In most states, such as Massachusetts, a Will must be signed and notarized by the testator (the person whose property is governed by the... Read more »