Given the highly personal and important nature of estate planning, the prospect of selecting an attorney to assist you with the creation of your plan may be a bit daunting. At DeBruyckere Law Offices we understand how important your estate plan is to you as well as how difficult it can be to try and choose the right attorney to help you with your plan. Our goal is to create a lifelong relationship with our Andover, Massachusetts clients so that they feel comfortable and confident about the estate plan we create together. If you need to create or update your estate pan, we would be honored to be chosen to assist you, both now and in the years to come.
Andover, Massachusetts
Located in the northeastern tip of Massachusetts, the town of Andover can be found in Essex County. As of the 2010 Census, Andover was home to 33,201 residents; however, the town is also part of the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Massachusetts-New Hampshire metropolitan statistical area.
As far back as the 1640s, the Massachusetts General Court was actively trying to encourage settlement in the area that would eventually be known as Andover. Colonists who agreed to settle in the area enjoyed three years’ immunity from taxes, levies, and services, with the exception of military service. Consequently, the first permanent settlement was established in 1642 by a group of settlors led by John Woodbridge. A few years later, in 1646, that settlement was incorporated as the town of Andover. The town was likely named after the town of Andover in England given that many of the original settlors were from that area of England.
During the 1692 Salem witch trials, more than 40 Andover citizens, mostly women and their children, were formally accused of witchcraft or otherwise making a pact with the Devil. Three of those residents, Martha Carrier, Mary Parker, and Samuel Wardwell, were convicted and executed while five others either pleaded guilty at arraignment or were convicted at trial.
Long before the Civil War began many residents of Andover were ardently opposed to slavery. In fact, several stops on the Underground Railroad could be found in Andover. In addition, Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was a longtime resident of the town. Visitors to Andover can still see her home, known as Stowe House.
Andover has gained notoriety throughout the U.S. as being home to one of the oldest and most prestigious independent secondary “prep” schools in the U.S. – Phillips Academy. Founded in 1770 by Samuel Phillips, the school today has an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students. Just a few of the notable Phillips Academy alumni include former President George Bush, pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock, and former Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Oliver Wendall Holmes Jr. Today, the town of Andover offers residents and visitors a charming blend of past and present.
DeBruyckere Law Offices in the Andover Community
The attorneys and staff at DeBruyckere Law Offices are proud to be part of the Andover, Massachusetts community. To us, our clients are much more than just clients – they are our neighbors, little league coaches, teachers, friends, and even family members. We are honored, therefore, to be able to help each and every one of them with their estate planning needs.
Creating your estate plan is not something that occurs in a single visit. On the contrary, a well thought out estate plan takes time, and trust, to create. Establishing a solid ongoing relationship with your estate planning attorney is crucial because as you grow and mature, so does your estate and, consequently, so do your estate planning needs. While your estate plan may initially focus primarily on protecting you and your young family from the financial devastation your unexpected incapacity or death could cause, your estate plan should expand and grow as the years go by and your needs change. If you become a parent, for instance, you will likely want to incorporate strategies for parents with minor children into your estate plan along with asset protection tools that will help protect your estate assets from the numerous and varied threats that might put them at risk. Retirement planning, business succession planning, and Medicaid planning are additional components that you may wish to add to your estate plan at some point. When you reach your Golden Years, it may be time to make probate avoidance and funeral planning part of your overall estate plan as well. At DeBruyckere Law Offices, our goal is to be with you every step of the way of your lifetime journey and to provide you with competent and compassionate legal advice and guidance regarding the things that matter most to you – you, your assets, and your loved ones.
Contact Us
If you have estate planning questions, or you wish to get started with your estate plan, please feel free to contact the experienced Massachusetts estate planning attorneys at DeBruyckere Law Offices by calling (978) 969-0331 to schedule your consultation.
