Estate Planning

With Game 5 of the World Series set for tonight, Red Sox fans in New England and across the nation will be turning their thoughts once again to the baseball diamond. As important as the game is, it is not life or death. But given the rich literature about baseball, it...

Sociologists have spilled considerable ink in recent years attempting to explain the prolonged transition to adulthood in American life in the second decade of the 21st century. The Great Recession, of course, made that transition more difficult for millions of young...

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...

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...

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...

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...

The word "fiduciary" derives from the Latin word for faith or trust. And in essence, a breach of fiduciary duty involves a breach of trust. "Trust" is also a legal term for a property right that one party exercises for the benefit of another. Those who exercise such...

Why is it important to make sure your estate planning documents are in order? For a reminder, one need only look to the recent case of the legendary singer James Brown. The estate of the man often called "the godfather of soul" has been the subject of contentious...

Lawyers who help clients with estate planning are clear in their message about the importance of getting a health care directive in place. Sometimes called a living will, these documents help to guide care decisions when someone no longer has the capacity to do so for...

Pets play an incredible role in many people's lives. The companionship and affection they provide is not only valuable in its own right. It also is remarkably beneficial in reducing stress and providing emotional support in an often-lonely world. What happens,...