Can I name more than one successor Trustee for my living trust? You betcha! You can certainly name more than one person to serve as a successor Trustee of your Massachusetts living trust when you’re gone. They are called co-Trustees….
If you live in Massachusetts and you can’t find the original deed to your house or other real estate, there’s no real need to worry. As long as that original deed was recorded at a Registry of Deeds or in…
With all the MegaMillions and lottery-winning news lately, my wife and I were hanging out on our porch here in Massachusetts one night imagining what we might do if we won the lottery. We ran through the usual litany of…
Giving Your Kids Some Money This Year? The 5 Critical Rules You Need to Know About Gift Taxes Before You Do It. Clients ask me all the time: if I give my kids a substantial gift, say $10,000, who has…
What is a Medallion Signature Guarantee? Medallion Signature Guarantees are generally required when you’re transferring any type of security. For example, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and some annuities. A Medallion Signature Guarantee is a special stamp and signature combination that…
What is a Testamentary Trust and How is it Different from a Living Trust? A “testamentary trust” (or a “T-Trust” for short) is a trust that is written into the terms of your Last Will and Testament. The word “testamentary”…
Many Massachusetts homeowners use “life estate” deeds for different reasons. Some use them as a general estate planning tool. Others frequently use them as a way to “keep the nursing home from getting their house.” In this post, we’ll talk…
April is National Autism Awareness Month in the United States. It’s a time of year that is dedicated to educating the public about the special needs and challenges facing those individuals living within the autism spectrum disorders (“ASDs”). ASDs are…
Add Estate Planning To Your List of Resolutions This Year The New Year means tax season is beginning. Here in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, like every other part of the country, we begin collecting our tax forms and looking for all possible…
“Estate Planning” Isn’t Just for the Rich and Famous. It’s for Everyone. My wife, Nancy, and I were at a favorite ‘watering hole’ here in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, recently and we started a conversation with some great people sitting next to…