We are pleased to provide information on various legal topics.

Estate Planning

What is estate planning? What is a will? What is a trust? What is a living trust? What is a testamentary trust? What is a revocable trust? What is an irrevocable trust? What is a nominee trust? What is a durable power of attorney? What is a general durable power of attorney? What is a springing durable power of attorney? What is a limited durable power of attorney? What is a health care proxy? What is a living will? Read more...

Asset Protection

What is asset protection planning? Read more...

Probate Law

What is probate? When is probate necessary? What type of probate proceedings to use? What is the deadline to begin probate proceedings? What is an inventory? What is an accounting? What is a fiduciary bond? What is a bond with sureties? Read more...

Trust Law

What is the Massachusetts Uniform Trust Code? Can a trust be created for the care of animals? Are the assets of a revocable living trust subject to the claims of creditors when the person who created the trust dies? I a spendthrift trust valid in Massachusetts? Is there a time limit to contesting the provisions of a revocable living trust after the person who created the trust dies? Do co-trustees always have to act unanimously? Is a trustee personally liable for damages caused by his or her actions as trustee? Is a co-trustee liable for damages caused by another co-trustee? Read more...

Estates and Trusts

Who can be the personal representative of an estate? What are the duties of a personal representative? Read more...

Will Contests

Who can contest a will? What are the deadlines to file a will contest? What are the grounds to contest a will? How to contest a will? Read more...

Estate and Gift Taxes

What is an estate tax? Is there an inheritance tax? What is a gift tax? What is a generation-skipping transfer tax? What is the federal exemption? What is the Massachusetts exemption? What is the marital deduction? What is the charitable deduction? What are the federal estate and gift tax rates? What are the Massachusetts estate tax rates? Read more...

Stepped-up Tax Basis

What is a stepped-up tax basis? What is a carried-over tax basis? Read more...

Probate Avoidance

How to avoid probate? What is joint ownership with right of survivorship? What is joint ownership as tenant in common? What is tenants by the entirety ownership? What is a transfer on death account? Read more...

MassHealth - Medicaid

What is MassHealth? Who needs MassHealth? What is Medicaid planning? What are the current eligibility requirements for an individual who needs nursing home care? Read more...

Aging and Incapacity

What are some common myths about the consequences of aging or becoming incapacitated? What happens to a person's assets if he or she needs care in a nursing home? Read more...

Real Estate Law

What happens after an offer to purchase residential real estate is signed by the buyer and seller? What is a homestead declaration? Read more...

Mortgages

What is MERS? Information about an entity that may be named as mortgagee on your mortgage instead of the bank or mortgage company that you dealt with to get your loan. Read more...

Business Law

Should I incorporate my business? What factors should be considered when forming a business entity? Where can I find more information? Read more...

Divorce

What factors does a judge consider when awarding alimony or determining division of marital property? Read more...