Wills

All lawyers in Massachusetts must follow the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct, which provide the standards for legal ethics and professional responsibility. Lawyers who practice estate planning in the state must be especially careful to follow the ethical...

In the past, most people didn’t earn a significant income until well into their 40s or 50s. However, today we have plenty of young entrepreneurs who have made millions before becoming middle-aged, thanks to the tech industry. Oftentimes, these individuals are coming...

In a previous blog post, we discussed the virtues of having an estate plan in place. Without a will or plan created before the time of death, a person’s assets and real property will be distributed according to state law -- rather than his or her wishes. After...

Massachusetts residents may learn from the recent death of New York fashion designer L'Wren Scott. Scott was found dead from an apparent suicide in her Manhattan apartment in March. Although no note was found, foul play was not suspected. L'Wren Scott was the longtime...

People in Massachusetts and throughout the nation who neglect to create a last will and testament may instead be creating potential relational and financial disasters. Some people believe that a handwritten note will direct the proper distribution of assets, but this...

Massachusetts readers, along with the rest of the country, may be following the news of the recent death of star Philip Seymour Hoffman. It turns out that the Oscar-winning actor left his estate paperwork in miserable shape. Experts guess that between almost $12- $15...

For many Massachusetts residents, designing an estate plan is a difficult but necessary action that must be taken. In most cases, this plan will help their loved ones be able to carry out the person's wishes. However, there are mistakes that are often made in the...

There is no doubt that caregivers play a unique and often crucial role in vulnerable people’s lives. When someone is struggling with an illness, old age or some other issue, the services of the person who helps with the accomplishment of daily tasks can be...

This blog is by no means aimed only at people whose estate planning decisions take place on an endless gravy train of high-asset accumulation. To be sure, we often write about wealth transfer in ways that make sure to include the upper end of the income spectrum. But...

When someone leaves behind two wills, it is obviously a recipe for confusion. And it is scarcely a surprise when an extended and hard-fought legal fight ensues in such circumstances -- especially when large amounts of money are involved. That is why testators in...