ARTICLES

The Document You Haven’t Written Yet: On the quiet risk of planning for death — but not for disability

The Document You Haven’t Written Yet: On the quiet risk of planning for death — but not for disability

Most people, if they think about end-of-life planning at all, picture a will. A formal document witnessed and notarized, that says who gets the house. They imagine a lawyer’s office, maybe a folder in a fireproof safe. What they rarely picture — and almost never plan for — is the long stretch of time that...
The Costly Mistakes Hidden Inside Every DIY Estate Plan

The Costly Mistakes Hidden Inside Every DIY Estate Plan

A homemade Will might feel like a sensible shortcut—but the errors left behind can take years, and thousands of dollars, to untangle. There is something deeply appealing about the idea of writing your own will. It seems straightforward—you know what you own, you know who you love, and plenty of websites will sell you a...
When There’s Not Enough Money: Understanding Insolvency in Probate

When There’s Not Enough Money: Understanding Insolvency in Probate

When someone passes away, their family may have to go through a court process called probate. This is when the court helps make sure the deceased person’s debts get paid and their belongings go to the right people. But what happens when the person who died didn’t have enough money or property to pay all...
PACE Applications and the Five-Year Lookback Period: What You Need to Know

PACE Applications and the Five-Year Lookback Period: What You Need to Know

A significant change in PACE program eligibility rules takes effect April 6. Families and caregivers should act promptly to understand how this policy shift may affect long-term care planning. Effective April 6, the five-year Medicaid lookback period will apply to all PACE program applications filed on or after that date. This represents a substantial change...
Understanding Guardians ad Litem in Probate Court

Understanding Guardians ad Litem in Probate Court

When someone passes away, their estate often goes through a legal process called probate, which can sometimes be complex and emotionally overwhelming for families. In certain situations, the court may appoint a “guardian ad litem,” a neutral representative who protects the interests of individuals who cannot advocate for themselves. Let’s break down what this means...
Medicare vs. Medicaid: What’s the Difference?

Medicare vs. Medicaid: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve ever heard “Medicare” and “Medicaid” in the same sentence, you’re not alone in feeling confused. They’re both government health programs, but they were created for different reasons, serve different groups of people, and work in very different ways. Let’s break it down. What Is Medicare? Medicare is a federal health insurance program run...
2026 MassHealth Eligibility Figures: What You Need to Know

2026 MassHealth Eligibility Figures: What You Need to Know

As we enter 2026, it’s important to be aware of the updated MassHealth eligibility figures that may affect your long-term care planning. These annual adjustments can have a significant impact on your eligibility for benefits, so we’ve summarized the key numbers below. Community-Based Programs For seniors aged 65 or older who receive care at home...
Why Updating Your Beneficiary Designations Matters

Why Updating Your Beneficiary Designations Matters

When most people think about estate planning, they picture wills, trusts, and maybe a conversation with an attorney. But there’s one piece of the puzzle that often gets overlooked—and it can completely override everything else you’ve put in place – beneficiary designations. Beneficiary Designations Beneficiary designations are the names you list on things like life...
Musings from a Reformed Hugger

How Coronavirus has changed the way we say “hello” I’m a hugger, there is just no getting around it.  When I meet someone I know, my first inclination is to give them a hug.  It’s my way of saying how happy I am to see the person and to convey the message that they are...

Dear Generations Law Group: Should I Be Updating My Estate Plan?

Dear Generations Law Group, I’ve been updating my Naughty and Nice List and checking it twice. This got me to wondering, “Should I be updating my Estate Plan too?” Yours Truly, Kris Kringle Dear Mr. Kringle, Thank you for your letter and question! You started off on the right path by creating an estate plan....

New Mass SJC Ruling Affects Inheritance Rights of Families

Recently, the Boston Globe reported that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court handed down a major ruling affecting the future inheritance rights of families, and in this case specifically, blended families.  In a unanimous decision, the court ruled that spouses are entitled to one-third of their deceased spouses’ estate – effectively cancelling out the late spouse’s...

Beneficiary Designations – Proceed with Caution

Whenever we purchase a life insurance policy, open a mutual fund, or enroll in a company retirement plan, we are usually asked to designate a beneficiary. After naming these individuals, we never give it much thought again. Maybe you’ve named your spouse, one of your parents or your children. After your death, these assets are...

Ribbon Cutting with Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce

Today the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce celebrated Generations Law Group with a ribbon cutting! Jonathan Kerr, Executive Director of the Chamber gave a nice speech, presented a certificate to the firm, and wished us well in serving families in Acton, Sudbury and Greater Boston.   Above:  Phil Summers, Cathleen Summers, Erica Endyke

Join us for the Generations Law Group events

RIBBON CUTTING IN ACTON with the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce Friday, September 22 from 12pm – 1pm Casual lunch will be provided 179 Great Road, Suite 109, Acton, MA 01720 OPEN HOUSE IN SUDBURY Thursday, October 5th from 4pm – 6pm Serving hors d’oeuvres and beverages 111 Boston Post Road, Suite 101, Sudbury, MA 01776 Please RSVP...

To better reflect the firm’s work of providing comprehensive legal services to the “sandwich generation” – those who balance their own needs while managing the futures of both their aging parents and their children – the firm name is changing from Bay State Elder Law to Generations Law Group. “When a parent or in-law has...