When you create an estate plan, you protect yourself and the people you love. Your last will ensures that your property passes to the people you want to receive it. Your living will can help your loved ones take care of you and your finances if you wind up...
What is supervised probate in Massachusetts?
When someone dies, the probate courts have the authority to oversee the administration of their estate. Massachusetts probate laws guide how people plan their estates and how executors carry out their last wishes. Most of the time, testators make plans that aim to...
Can sibling rivalry lead to a will contest?
At the heart of any will contest is the idea that the deceased's will is somehow invalid. The grounds for that thought vary, including things like undue influence, lack of mental capacity or a fraudulent signature. However, don’t assume that these are the only...
What you should know about will codicils
When you drafted your will, your attorney likely told you that it will be necessary to update it when there are changes to your family or your assets that impact the will’s provisions. This could include marriage, divorce, a new child, the death of your chosen...
Talking to heirs about estate planning is wise
Are you interested in reducing the odds of an estate dispute and making the probate process go more smoothly for your heirs? The first step is to do your estate planning, of course. A proper estate plan can help avoid many issues that heirs face when they have to make...
Grounds to contest a will in Massachusetts
If you wish to contest a will in Massachusetts, you need to be what is called an interested person. It usually means family, those previously named as beneficiaries in the deceased's will or creditors. These are some of the reasons you may contest a will: It was not...
Undue influence: How to recognize when Mom or Dad has been scammed
When talking about estates and wills, “undue influence” means someone took advantage of the testator’s declining physical or mental state to get something they wanted -- usually the bulk of that person’s estate. In the movies, it’s always a young caretaker who worms...
Succession planning is a valuable life and business lesson
Many owners of small businesses give little if any thought to the process of choosing their business’ next leaders and preparing them to nurture the business and its value. One attorney who works on this “succession planning” reports her clients usually plan a...
Where there’s a will, there’s a need for a change
You want to continue providing for your family after you’re gone, so you made a will to make your well-laid plans known. But if you can’t remember the last time you looked over your will, the time is probably now. You’re already ahead of 66% of the American population...
