Author Archives: admin

The “Rules of Retirement”

Posted on December 30, 2011 by admin

Retirement accounts are not what many people expected they would be in light of the global recession. What’s in them isn’t the only factor to consider, however; it’s important to understand who is entitled to your assets. According to New … Continue reading →

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World’s Richest Cat Can’t be “Trusted”

Posted on December 20, 2011 by admin

According to an article in The Guardian, “Tommaso, a four-year-old, one-time stray from Rome, is thought to have become the world’s richest cat.”  We’ve seen cases like this before, but unlike Massachusetts, which allows residents to establish trusts for their … Continue reading →

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“Inheriting a Home, and a Loan”

Posted on November 23, 2011 by admin

We’ve discussed estate taxes quite a bit on this blog, because it can be a contentious and politicized topic; but while the word “inheritance” has a wealthy ring to it, most bequests come with strings attached. Estate taxes and  the … Continue reading →

Posted in Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Mortgage, Will | Tagged , | Leave a comment

National Estate Planning Awareness : Pass it On

Posted on October 18, 2011 by admin

Over the course of this blog I’ve advocated for immediate design of an estate plan under the advisement of an estate planning lawyer like me. As this is National Estate Planning Week, it’s only fitting that I should make another … Continue reading →

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Another Estate Tax Deadline Looming

Posted on October 12, 2011 by admin

By November 15, 2011, an important estate planning decision must be reached: either opt to have the imposed federal estate tax rate reached last year by President Obama and Congressional Republicans, or opt out. If you opt-in, then assets on … Continue reading →

Posted in Estate Planning, Estate Tax | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

News Update: Trusts for Pets

Posted on September 16, 2011 by admin

Effective April 7, 2011, residents of Massachusetts may now establish pet trusts to care for one or more animals, living during the settlor’s lifetime. This trust now allows individuals to plan for and take care of their pets not only … Continue reading →

Posted in Beneficiaries, Estate Planning, Trust | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Room to Grow, Your Right to Know: HIPAA and HCPOA Forms

Posted on August 1, 2011 by admin

Our children are growing up in so many ways: they’re going off to college or into the work force, where they will gain valuable life skills and learn important lessons. Most of them are also going become adults, by which … Continue reading →

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The importance of being earnest (when designating beneficiaries)

Posted on July 14, 2011 by admin

No one likes to make a will and people constantly put it off, but one thing that should never be put off is designating beneficiaries.  Not only should beneficiaries be named carefully, they should also periodically be reviewed, verified and … Continue reading →

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Should my elderly parent, in a nursing home, sell her house?

Posted on June 30, 2011 by admin

One of the most common questions surrounding estate planning for the elderly is what to do with their home and other assets after one or both have entered a nursing home. The children of elderly parents are constantly asking estate … Continue reading →

Posted in Elder Care, Estate Planning, Medicaid | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Elder Care and Consideration

Posted on June 20, 2011 by admin

The process of watching elderly parents age before your eyes is an emotional and challenging experience and for members of the “sandwich” generation, a duty to balance the care for their children and their parents can be a difficult job.  … Continue reading →

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