When a loved one passes away, there are a multitude of practical and legal concerns that must be addressed despite that fact that you are grieving the loss. Among the most important of those concerns is the need to administer the estate and distribute the assets of the decedent. Often, that requires the estate to go through the lengthy and costly process of formal probate. If the decedent did not own any real property, however, you may be wondering if probate is still necessary.  Because every … [Read more...]

Creating a successful estate plan requires you to consider a wide range of factors that may impact you, your assets, and/or your plan at some point over the course of your lifetime. One of the most important of those factors is taxes. In fact, failing to consider the impact that gift and estate taxes may have on your estate plan can be a fatal flaw. Given the highly individualistic nature of estate planning, you will need to consult with an experienced estate planning attorney to determine … [Read more...]

Probate is one of those things that you have probably heard of, but know very little about unless you have been through the probate of an estate at some point during your lifetime. Everyone, however, should have at least a basic understanding of the probate process for their own estate planning purposes. Because the primary purpose of probate is to distribute your estate assets after your death, you should understand the relationship between probate and property. To help you, consider the … [Read more...]

Whether you have been notified that you were appointed as the Executor of an estate, or you are planning your own estate and need to appoint an Executor, it is important to understand the duties and responsibilities of an Executor. "Executor" is also sometimes referred to as "Personal Representative".  Unfortunately, people frequently name someone as their Executor without taking the time to contemplate what it means to be an Executor and, therefore, whether or not the individual is actually the … [Read more...]

The death of a family member or loved one is typically followed by a period of grief and mourning. If you were named as the Executor in the decedent’s Last Will and Testament, however, it also means navigating Massachusetts probate. If this is your first time serving as the Executor of an estate (also referred to as a "Personal Representative"), you are likely feeling a bit overwhelmed at the prospect. The best decisions you can make right now is to consult with an experienced Massachusetts … [Read more...]

If you find yourself involved in the probate of an estate for one of several reasons, and you have never been through the probate process before, you likely have a number of questions about the process itself and your role within the process. One of the most common questions people who are involved in the probate of an estate have is “how long does take?” Because the probate of an estate is such an individualized process, there is no way to provide a universal answer to that specific question. … [Read more...]

There is a very good chance that you will find yourself in the Massachusetts probate court at some point in your life. You could be there as the Executor or Personal Representative of the estate of someone who recently died. You could also be there because you are a beneficiary or heir of an estate. Regardless of the reason, it can be somewhat intimidating to find yourself involved in a legal matter in a court with which you are unfamiliar. Although every probate process is as unique as the … [Read more...]

To create a successful, comprehensive, estate plan, you need to focus on more than just the distribution of your estate assets when you are gone. In fact, a well thought out estate plan typically includes a variety of different components that make use of numerous different estate planning tools and strategies. In order to determine what components should be included in your estate plan, you must first consider what your estate planning needs and goals are. One common estate planning goal is … [Read more...]

Your Last Will and Testament will likely provide the foundation for your entire estate plan. As such, the decisions you make in your Will should be made only after careful consideration. This applies not only to decisions that relate to the distribution of your estate assets, but also to the decision of who to appoint as the Executor of your estate. People frequently make the mistake of simply filling in the name of a spouse, family member, or close friend as the Executor in their Last Will and … [Read more...]

There is a very strong likelihood that you will be involved in the probate of an estate at some point in your life. You might find yourself involved in the probate process because you were named as the Executor of an estate or because you volunteered to oversee the administration of an intestate estate. You might also be involved in the probate of an estate as a beneficiary, heir, or even creditor of an estate. Regardless of the reason for your involvement in the probate process, you will … [Read more...]