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On Behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. | May 28, 2013 | Trusts
One of the themes of this blog is that estate planning is not a one-and-done activity. To be sure, for a married couple it may seem straightforward to simply leave everything to each other. After all, that is what a tenancy by the entirety is intended to do for...
On Behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. | May 20, 2013 | Wills
A month ago, in our April 15 post, we wrote about Google's introduction of a dashboard to assist people with making decisions about what happens to their digital data after death. This could include designating someone to serve as "inactive account manager" - or, in...
On Behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. | May 14, 2013 | Wills
Young people in their 20s and 30s have a lot on their plates. Finishing school, starting a family, launching a career — all are inherently challenging. Indeed, the combination of increases in the cost of college and the sluggish post-Recession job market can...
On Behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. | May 7, 2013 | Estate Administration & Probate
In last week's post, we wrote about the importance of updating beneficiary designations in life insurance policies and on retirement accounts. The reason for doing so is simple: to make sure the designations continue to express the priorities of the policy or account...
On Behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. | Apr 29, 2013 | Estate Planning
In recent years, Congressional action on esate taxes has focused on raising the exemption amount. The changes have increased the amount of assets that can be excluded from the federal estate tax. Individuals can now pass along up to $5.25 million without tax...
On Behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. | Apr 23, 2013 | Wills
It sounds like something that would happen only in an old-fashioned board game. A long-last relative dies, leaving you a big bequest that solves all of your money problems. In a recent Massachusetts case, however, two women did inherit money from a long-lost relative....
On Behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. | Apr 15, 2013 | Estate Planning
Estate planning and administration are highly traditional areas of the law. This tradition reflects centuries of common law practice, along with modern statutes. Increasingly, however, taking care of an estate after someone dies involves dealing with issues regarding...
On Behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. | Apr 8, 2013 | Trusts
Life never stands still. Even when you have crafted an estate plan that makes sense for you and your family, it's only natural that changes will come up. This doesn't mean there was anything wrong with your earlier planning. It simply means that life is dynamic and it...
On Behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. | Apr 2, 2013 | Estate Planning
Succession planning is important for any organization. But it is particularly important for small businesses - especially it is a family-run small business. In a small business owned or operated by a family, changes in the family structure can directly affect the...
On Behalf of Cushing & Dolan, P.C. | Mar 27, 2013 | Estate Planning
Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. Eight more states have followed. But much remains to be clarified, even for same-sex couples in Massachusetts and those other states, about what their rights are under federal law. That is why today's...