The long-awaited legalization of same-sex marriage has been a welcome victory for the LGBTQ Community and their supporters. Even so, it is still quite common in the LGBTQ community to have a long-time partner but never marry. If you have been sharing your life with a significant other but are not legally married, it is…

As more seniors are struggling financially, an increasing concern those who are or will be managing their parent’s estate have is “Am I going to be responsible for my parent’s debt?”  Credit card debts and medical expenses can often overwhelm a family’s finances.  The last thing a parent wants is to pass their debts onto…

It is undeniable that we are a digital economy. According to Pew Research Center, approximately 87% of our population uses the internet. This means that an overwhelming majority of Americans are relying on electronic networks for regular methods of communication, organization and life management. We use our on-line life for so many things: family photos…

Last week I had an opportunity to sit with a new client who said it had been several years since he had reviewed his estate plan. During that time he had lost his wife and one of his children had married and had a child. As part of our review process, we look at his…

In today’s (February 7, 2019) Boston Globe, a heartbreaking story made the front page. The story is about a family who has been living in the same home for almost 40 years in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is now facing the loss of the home due to the death of their patriarch. Several generations of this…

Did you know, if you don’t have a current estate plan in place, the Massachusetts Probate Court will decide who will inherit your possessions, raise your children, manage your assets, and administer your estate? Without proper organization, your assets could go unnoticed or become lost and loved ones may not benefit from your years of…

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…

Going to the hospital for a procedure can be stressful and, at times, confusing. A hospital will usually ask you if you have a Health Care Proxy (HCP) in place. If you do not have an HCP, or are unsure, they will ask you to sign a simple Massachusetts HCP form. As you are probably…