Beneficiaries
Undue Influence and Estate Planning – What You Need to Know
When we think of “Undue Influence”, we think of contested wills, families divided and older, vulnerable people exploited by self-interested relatives. Declaring undue influence is often used as a reason to contest a will or estate plan, but there are two ways to consider undue influence in estate planning. If you’re the one drafting a…
Read MoreSheryl Dennis on Legacy Planning in Lawyers Weekly
Sheryl Dennis was recently quoted in the March 12, 2015 issue of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Attorney Dennis was consulted on digital legacy planning as it pertains to a new Facebook feature that allows individuals to choose a “legacy contact” to manage their account in the event of their death. The article, “Estate planners welcome Facebook’s…
Read MoreEstate Planning Advice on Disinheriting a Child
When considering your estate plan, one of the things you will have to think about is who your beneficiaries will be. If you have a significant estate, this decision is made even more complex. How will you divvy up your assets, who will receive an inheritance and are there those who you will deliberately exclude?…
Read More3 Easily Avoidable Estate Planning Mistakes
Estate planning is not a topic that many like to think about. After all, planning for our death can be a morbid way to pass the time. But, instead of thinking about the negative, it is important to remember the positive attributes of estate planning – namely, the security and future well-being of your family…
Read MorePlanning Ahead for the Medicaid Look Back Period
It is always a good idea to start thinking about long-term planning early so that you are financially prepared for the future and your mind can be at ease if future hardship should occur. While estate planning is one endeavor that is best tackled early, long-term health care is another important issue and one that…
Read MoreThe Landmark SCOTUS Decision that Impacts your Inherited IRA
In a landmark decision handed down on June 12, 2014, the United States Supreme Court held that inherited IRAs are not protected from creditors in a bankruptcy claim. In Clark v. Rameker, the Supreme Court unanimously held that retirement funds inherited by a beneficiary after the original plan participant’s death are not considered “retirement funds”…
Read MoreAn Introduction to High-Net Worth Estate Planning
Estate planning is an important concern for anyone who desires their affairs be handled according to their wishes after their death. Planning for high-net worth individuals and families is complex and dependent upon the particular desires of the family. High-net worth estate planning should be handled carefully, so that your estate, which you’ve worked hard…
Read MoreEstate Planning is for Everyone
A common planning misconception is that only those with vast assets need an estate plan. But, it is important to emphasize that estate planning is not just for the wealthy. For many, the word “estate” conjures up a Downton Abbey-like property and an overwhelming amount of zeros on your bank account balance, but estate planning is a must, regardless of your tax bracket. An estate plan concerns…
Read MoreBitcoins and Estate Planning: Bequeathing Cryptocurrency
With the prevalence of Bitcoin as a form of digital currency, new considerations must be made when it comes to a variety of legal concerns. We recently looked at the repercussions of Bitcoin on divorce, but that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ways that Bitcoin is influencing how…
Read More5 Must-Have Estate Planning Documents
As the New Year progresses, there is no better time to start thinking about estate planning. To start your year off right, here is a checklist of the five must-have pieces to every solid estate plan. 1. Will This is the most obvious starting point of every estate plan – and, in fact, most people who have done some form of estate planning probably…
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