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7 Reasons to Preplan Your Funeral

7 Reasons to Preplan Your Funeral

More frequently, we are hearing clients talk about wanting to plan ahead for all aspects of their aging, including planning for their final funeral wishes.  While not necessarily a “fun” way to spend one’s time, planning for end of life can have many benefits.   One of the strategies often used is to prepay for funeral...
7 Long Term Care Considerations

7 Long Term Care Considerations

A point of discussion we often have with our clients concerns the issue of long term care.  On most days, we receive questions such as, “How do I protect my assets?” and “How do I make sure that I get the care I need as I age?”.   Thinking about long-term care costs is a wise...
Adding a Property to a Revocable Trust

Adding a Property to a Revocable Trust

We are often asked by clients who have a revocable trust, whether they can put their property into that trust, and the answer is usually yes. What if there is a mortgage? Even if that property has a loan against it, you can transfer ownership of the property into a revocable trust of which you...
Don’t Sign Another Health Care Proxy!

Don’t Sign Another Health Care Proxy!

A healthcare proxy document is a document that you sign appointing someone else to step into your shoes should you need healthcare decisions made when you’re incompetent or incapacitated. Clients will often ask: What happens when I go into my doctor’s office or go in for to the hospital for a procedure and they want...
Assisted Living Resident Agreements:  Key Points to Know Before You Sign

Assisted Living Resident Agreements: Key Points to Know Before You Sign

Like change of any kind, moving into a new community can be both exciting and overwhelming.  Whether you are dealing with the emotion of leaving a community that you have lived in for a long time, or experiencing changes in your health, moving to a new community can be difficult but provide incredible benefits.  One...
7 Reasons Every Adult Needs Health Care Directives

7 Reasons Every Adult Needs Health Care Directives

Health care planning, such as the creation of a health care proxy here in Massachusetts, is critical for anyone over the age of 18, not just older adults. Here are some reasons why health care planning is important at every stage of life: 1. Preventative Care Health care planning allows individuals to prioritize preventative care...
Massachusetts Probate Law: Do my assets have to go through Probate?

Massachusetts Probate Law: Do my assets have to go through Probate?

You have probably heard from friends or relatives who’ve gone through it.  Probate is a time-consuming, expensive, and very public process. Not to mention it can sometimes be unpleasant. Anyone, especially your children’s ex-spouses and creditors, can see many private things about you, such as personal information, your finances, including your debts, the value of...
Can You Name More Than One Trustee?

Can You Name More Than One Trustee?

A question we receive frequently is “Can I name more than one person to serve as a co-trustee of my trust?” The answer is yes, you can, but it may cause some complications. There are a couple of things for you to consider: Financial institutions. A trustee’s job is to manage and distribute assets based...
Taking Care of the Caregiver

Caring for someone else, especially someone with dementia, can be physically and emotionally draining. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias provide care for a longer duration than caregivers of people with other types of conditions (79% versus 66%) and 57% of family caregivers...

5 Important Vacation Preparation Items

Summer is in full swing and many of us are planning vacations – maybe it’s a local holiday to New England’s beaches or the mountains, or possibly something that requires air travel, like a trip to the west coast or “across the pond” to Europe. Before you leave, take some time to review your estate...

Your Vacation Home is a Treasured Heirloom

Vacation homes can mean many different things:  the center of cherished family memories; a reliable vacation spot; an investment for now and in the future.  Passing your beloved vacation property to future generations takes careful planning.  Not surprising, there is no one-size-fits-all planning option to ensure that this treasured real estate is protected from challenges...

3 Legal Documents Young Adults Need

Whether it be heading off to college, a gap year, or entering into the workforce, once our kids reach the age of eighteen, they enter the world as “adults” and are no longer legal minors. We can only hope that we have fully prepared our children for what lies ahead, however there is always the...

Whom Do You Trust?

One of the most important aspects of creating an estate plan is selecting trusted people to act on your behalf in the event you are unable to make do so for yourself. These individuals, known as fiduciaries, carry out your wishes based on authority granted in a Power of Attorney or Health Care Proxy. The...