“We will be done with all of this soon, right?” That’s the question I often hear when working with a client who has been appointed as the Personal Representative (PR) of the estate of a loved one who has recently passed away. My answer is to view the administration of an estate as a marathon, […]

Although all citizens or residents of the United States are subject to the federal estate tax at death, the current federal estate tax exemption of $11.2 million per person means that most of us will not pay a federal estate tax at death.  However, Massachusetts has the distinction of being one of only 18 states to […]

Make things easier for the people you love. In 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution to congratulate the Celtics as NBA World Champions.  That same day, the House passed a bill declaring that the third week of October would be National Estate Planning Awareness Week, recognizing that half of the country does […]

(Saving Your Heirs Money with Proper Estate Planning) As Estate Planning Attorneys we often get questions about Estate Taxes. The Estate Tax, often called ‘the Death Tax’, is a tax on the value of assets owned at the time of death. The Estate Tax is completely separate from the income tax and it is little […]

Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul” died on August 16, 2018.  It has been reported that she died without a Will or Trust.  Aretha is in good company, as she has joined the surprisingly long list of celebrities who die without a Will, the most recent of which was Prince. As an estate planning attorney, […]

The Massachusetts estate tax is a little-understood tax that impacts middle-class families in our fair state every year.  If you live (and die) in Massachusetts and own a home, a retirement account, and a life insurance policy, there is a good chance that your “estate” is large enough to be subject to estate tax.   Here […]

Let’s face it – taking a risk now and again can add a bit of spice to life.  How else to explain hang-gliding or road-side sushi stands?  On the other hand, keeping one’s family and fortune safe from risk is on the list of “lifetime goals” for most people.  Estate planning is all about protecting […]

  Summer is now in full swing after the end-of-the-school-year excitement and celebrations for recent high school grads!  Many parents will soon begin the process of preparing their young adult for college, including spending lots of time (and money!) at Bed, Bath & Beyond purchasing items for the dorm room, classes, and extracurricular activities.   In […]

Some of the most frequent questions I hear from clients in my estate planning law practice have to do with whether they should create an irrevocable trust.  Here are five questions to ask when deciding whether or not an irrevocable trust would be a good addition to your estate planning strategy. What is your reason […]