John Wick - What You Need To Know about the Corporate Transparency Act
Once Removed Episode 24: Expressing Goals and Intent for the Trust
Once Removed Episode 22: Building Flexibility into the Estate Plan
Once Removed Episode 20: Helping a Beneficiary Purchase a Home
Once Removed Episode 19: The Step-Transaction Doctrine and the Case of Smaldino
Next Generation Legacy Management - The Essence of Developing, Managing and Implementing a Plan for Future Generations
A Primer On Trusts - A Podcast with Janathan Allen
Once Removed Episode 13: It’s 5 o’Clock: Do You Know Where Your Will Is? A Lesson From Aretha Franklin
Charitable Bequests With Guest Stephanie Hood
Once Removed Episode 12: SLATs and the Case of McKim vs. McKim
Once Removed Episode 11: Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts, or SLATs
Digital Planning Podcast Episode: Family Office Technology Solutions
Digital Planning Podcast Episode: The Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act
What is a self-proving affidavit?
The Importance of Beneficiary Designations
Basics of Estate Planning
The Case of the Disappearing Trust
Protecting Your Estate Plan from Challenges: No-Contest Clause Explained
The Secret Child
Welcome to 'Splitting Heirs'
As pet owners, we form deep bonds with our furry, feathered, or scaly companions, considering them part of our families. But what happens to these beloved pets if we become unable to care for them due to illness, incapacity,...more
Fortunately, your worry was solved by the Massachusetts Pet Trust Law, M.G.L.A. 203E § 408, which allows the creation of a trust during the settlor/owner’s lifetime for the continuing care of a pet or other animal should the...more
For many pet owners, their furry friends are not just their most valued possessions – they are family members. Pet owners want to do everything they can to care for their pets, but what happens if they outlive you? It can be...more
Many of us consider our pets an important part of our family and worry about their care and well-being when we are no longer able to make decisions about their care. As animal lovers ourselves, we have worked with many...more
People often assume that if their estate isn’t taxable, they don’t need to have an estate plan. In 2023, a Massachusetts estate tax return must be filed if the value of the deceased person’s gross estate exceeds $1 million. A...more
The Grinch lives alone in a mountaintop cave with his dog, Max, and no medical attention for his undersized heart and oversized unpleasantness. The Grinch observes the noisy holiday festivities of Whoville from afar. The...more
When my kids started to feel isolated and bored spending so much time at home due to the pandemic, we volunteered to be foster parents for a sweet four-week old kitty, Marigold. She was a fuzzball so tiny that I could hold...more
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are taking action to make sure that their affairs are in order – reviewing guardian nominations for their minor children, funding their revocable trusts and, in some cases, making...more
The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) has sparked an interest in people all over the world to make sure their affairs are in order in case of sudden death or incapacitation. Many pet owners consider their...more
Pet trusts have been around for decades, but they’ve been gaining in popularity the last few years. In fact, they’re now available anywhere in the country. This brief article explains how a pet trust works....more
We are pleased to present the Year End 2019 issue of Insight on Estate Planning We encourage you to read through it for ideas about ways you can minimize taxes on your estate and maximize its value for your loved ones. In...more
Beezer the cat can be a member of the family, but what happens to Beezer or [insert your pet's name] after you are gone? How can you ensure your pet will be cared for? One option is to create a pet trust. While you can give...more
Anyone who has a pet knows that they are more than just companions, they are members of your family. Often, when people make decisions about their estate plans, they want to take these furry members of their family into...more
In my senior year of high school, my great aunt had chest pains and went to the ER. Unfortunately, she died that same night, and my dad and his cousin were left with the task of finding a new home for Sherman, her beloved...more
Have you considered your pet or pets when planning your estate? If not, you should, according to The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization....more
Most people remember the late Leona Helmsley as the convicted tax felon famous for uttering the words “only little people pay taxes”, but she is also remembered for having a will that left a $12 million trust fund for her...more
Gift giving made easy - Annual exclusion reduces your taxable estate - How can you reduce the size of your taxable estate? There are many ways to accomplish this objective, including the use of irrevocable trusts...more
Generally, trusts must have one or more human beneficiaries, but there’s an exception for certain “purpose” trusts. One popular type of purpose trust is a charitable trust. But don’t overlook the noncharitable purpose (NCP)...more