Massachusetts Estate Planning Law Blog

Understanding the details of a testamentary trust

On behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. posted in Wills on Wednesday, November 14, 2018.

There are many trusts to choose from when you are going through the process of planning your estate. Learning about all of them can feel time-consuming and overwhelming. However, it is important to do so in order to make the best decision for your estate and beneficiaries.

A testamentary trust is unique because it is not in existence during the lifetime of the estate planner. Instead, it comes into effect at the end of the estate planner's lifetime.

When can the probate process become delayed?

On behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. posted in Estate Administration & Probate on Friday, November 9, 2018.

The probate process can be lengthy at the best of times. But there are certain situations that can mean the process takes especially long. If you are starting to plan your estate in the state of Massachusetts, it is likely that you will want to do everything you can to make sure that your beneficiaries have access to their inheritance with relative ease.

Many people try to find ways to bypass the entire probate process altogether. However, if you have decided that you are comfortable with your assets going through the probate process, you will still likely want to simplify the process as much as possible for the sake of your beneficiaries.

Common questions about estate taxes

On behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. posted in Estate Taxes on Thursday, November 1, 2018.

For many estate planners, the question of taxes can feel complex and overwhelming. It is important that you do not bury your head in the sand when it comes to tax filings. By taking some small steps to address the most lingering questions, it is likely that you will find the estate planning process much easier to handle.

Often estate planners are most concerned with understanding how to reduce estate taxes while complying with the law. The more that you research these topics, the more you will learn about how you can save money and make more financially lucrative decisions.

Understanding powers of attorney in Massachusetts

On behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. posted in Powers of Attorney on Friday, October 26, 2018.

Appointing a power of attorney for your estate is arguably one of the most important decisions that you will have to make. It gives this person power to essentially make decisions on your behalf. They are most often used in an estate plan, when foreseeing the possibility of becoming incapacitated in the future. They may also be used by military service members during the time that they go on active duty.

If you are considering appointing a power of attorney in the state of Massachusetts, it is likely that you will have many questions. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions about powers of attorney.

What is a life insurance trust?

On behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. posted in Trusts on Friday, October 19, 2018.

It is becoming increasingly common for people in the state of Massachusetts to purchase life insurance since they offer a way to give families peace of mind. They may choose such packages so that they are confident that they can give their children the support they need no matter the circumstances.

However, life insurance can be problematic for the purposes of estate planning. One way to avoid complications is to have life insurance controlled within your estate plan. You can do this by choosing to start an irrevocable life insurance trust.

Planning to protect your assets in Massachusetts

On behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. posted in Wills on Thursday, October 11, 2018.

Planning an estate is a very important process in anyone's life. It can give people peace of mind to know that their legacy will go on after the end of their life. But while planning on how your assets will be managed at the end of your life is important, it is also important that you manage and protect your assets during your lifetime.

This is where asset protection planning comes into play. Asset protection planning helps people organize their wealth in the most efficient way possible, making their assets less vulnerable to threats. There are many strategies that can be used to help you protect your assets. If you are interested in protecting your assets in the state of Massachusetts, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the most common ways this is done.

Appointing a power of attorney does not need to be nerve-wracking

On behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. posted in Powers of Attorney on Friday, October 5, 2018.

When you are thinking about the future of your health, you may come to the conclusion that appointing a durable power of attorney is a sensible option. No one knows what the future holds, and it is important to many of us that a person we trust will be able to act on our behalf if we become incapacitated in some way.

However, many of us become very nervous about making such a choice. Appointing a durable power of attorney essentially means that we are handing over our decisions to another person, which can feel scary. But as long as the process is followed properly, and a trusted person is appointed, it can be a very positive decision.

Do I have standing to challenge a will?

On behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. posted in Estate Administration & Probate on Wednesday, September 26, 2018.

When a person passes away and leaves a will behind, the will in question goes through the probate process unless it is challenged. The vast majority of wills do not get challenged and the inheritance passes down successfully to beneficiaries without issue.

If you are concerned about the legitimacy of a will of a loved one or if you think that there might be a reason for you to need to challenge a will in the future in the state of Massachusetts, it is important that you understand whether you have legal standing in order to do so.

How court-ordered constructive trusts can be beneficial

On behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. posted in Trusts on Friday, September 21, 2018.

Trusts are quite often thought of in general terms; however, there are many different types of trusts available and they differ greatly depending on the type. Therefore, it is important to understand more about all of the options and benefits so that you are able to compare how constructive trusts differ to the norm.

Constructive trusts are quite different from other types of trusts because they are not created by individual people. Instead, they are created by the court in a response to a certain situation where it is believed that justice needs to be done.

Estate tax exemptions in Massachusetts

On behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. posted in Estate Taxes on Thursday, September 13, 2018.

If you are starting to plan your estate, it is likely that you will want to look into the taxes that may or not be applied to your estate at the end of your life. Many people make it their primary goal when planning their estate to minimize the gift and estate taxes that they will need to pay. This can be effectively done by being creative with your estate plan.

Therefore, if you want to create an estate plan that will benefit your beneficiaries to the maximum degree, it is a good idea to get familiar with the way that estate tax and gift tax work in the state of Massachusetts, and what tax exemptions you might be able to take advantage of.