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When It is Better Not to Gift: Waiting Could Save Your Family Money

When It is Better Not to Gift: Waiting Could Save Your Family Money

Have you ever heard the saying “it’s better to give than to receive”? When it comes to taxes, that’s not always true. Before you rush to give away your valuable assets to your children or grandchildren, let’s break down why waiting might save your family a bundle in taxes. The Magic of the “Step-Up”: A...
Can We Talk? 10 Tips for Sensitive Conversations

Can We Talk? 10 Tips for Sensitive Conversations

Discussing sensitive topics like driving abilities, firearm safety, or changes in living situations with our aging parents or other loved ones can be challenging. These conversations are crucial for ensuring their safety and well-being, but they require tact and preparation. Here are ten tips to help you navigate these difficult discussions: 1. Choose the right...
Should You Draft Your Own Revocable Trust?

Should You Draft Your Own Revocable Trust?

In today’s digital age, online software for creating legal documents, including revocable trusts, has become increasingly popular. While these tools may seem convenient and cost-effective, they often fall short in providing the comprehensive, personalized service that a professional law firm can offer. The attorneys at Generations Law Group believe in the importance of expert guidance...
Maximizing Your Legacy: Estate Planning Can Reduce Estate Tax Exposure

Maximizing Your Legacy: Estate Planning Can Reduce Estate Tax Exposure

Estate taxes can significantly impact the wealth you’ve worked hard to accumulate over your lifetime, potentially reducing the amount you can pass on to your heirs. However, with careful estate planning, it’s possible to minimize your estate tax exposure and maximize the legacy you leave behind. This blog post explores various strategies that can help...
Long Term Care Bill Signed into Massachusetts Law

Long Term Care Bill Signed into Massachusetts Law

On September 6, 2024, Governor Maura Healy signed into law H5033 (An Act to Improve Quality and Oversight of Long-Term Care) known as the Long Term Care bill.  The legislation related to the bill has been long advocated by numerous groups, including the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (MassNAELA). Some...
10 Things to Do Before Flying South for the Winter

10 Things to Do Before Flying South for the Winter

The summer temperatures are calming down a bit this week, and we are (reluctantly) starting to think about the fall and winter months. If you are a New Englander who flies south for the winter, there are some estate planning elements that you should review or initiate. These items help you prepare for the “what...
Preparing Your Adult Child: 3 Essential Legal Documents

Preparing Your Adult Child: 3 Essential Legal Documents

As our children embark on their next chapter in life, whether it’s heading off to college, taking a gap year, or entering the workforce, we parents face a bittersweet milestone. Our kids, now 18, are legally considered adults. While we’ve done our best to prepare them for what lies ahead, we may still need to...
4 Ways to Use Trusts for Future Generations’ Inheritance

4 Ways to Use Trusts for Future Generations’ Inheritance

As you plan for your family’s financial future, trusts can be powerful tools to efficiently protect and transfer wealth. Using a Trust to hold inheritances for children or grandchildren can allow you to leverage annual gifting and potentially reduce estate taxes. 1. Trusts as Inheritance Vehicles Setting up a trust to hold assets for your...
How to Talk to Your Children About Health Care Decisions

“Can’t we talk about something more pleasant?” This is so often the response that we get when we try to speak with our loved ones about health care and end-of-life decision making. These conversations often make everyone uncomfortable, because it is dealing with issues and decisions that we often times don’t want to face or...

State-Sponsored Programs to Assist Seniors in Massachusetts

Recently, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs shared information about some state-sponsored programs that might be of interest to seniors.   They include the following: 1. Home Modification and Loan Program – offered by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) and provides 0% to 3% loans (up to $30,000) to help Massachusetts homeowners make modifications that...