If you have a Will, you have an executor. You are placing a lot of trust in your executor. After all, this is the person who will be serving in your stead when you pass away—helping your loved ones, overseeing your finances, paying your final bills and distributing your property. ...
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Sometimes the Best Thing is to Do Nothing at All
Clients came in a few months ago explaining that several years back, the mother had deeded her house into a trust and now she wanted to make a change to the trust. I said that I would review the trust to be sure that such a change would be permitted and would advise them...
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Howard Gleckman’s Caring for Our Parents
I’ve been reading Howard Gleckman’s book, Caring for Our Parents, in which he examines the long-term care system of today and the future. Essentially, if we keep on doing things as we are now (expect people to use up their savings to stay at home or in assisted living, have...
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Howard Gleckman’s New Book: Caring for Our Parents
Driving to work on Friday, I had the treat of listening to NPR's Robin Young interview Howard Gleckman on his new book, Caring for Our Parents: Inspiring Stories of Families Seeking New Solutions to America’s Most Urgent Health Crisis. I only caught the end of the interview, but it was so reassuring to hear...
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End of Life Wishes & Living Wills
Clients are always asking about living wills. Massachusetts law does not recognize a living will, and it's also impossible to write a thorough, well balanced statement of your end of life wishes in just a few paragraphs.
I provide clients with a solution to their goal, but in a much better form. I give my...
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My Spouse Died – What Do I Need to Do to Protect Myself?
After a spouse dies and the family gets through the funeral, the immediate concern is to square away the couple's assets and make sure the surviving spouse has enough to live on. After that, there is one more step to take: protecting yourself.
One area where you need to be proactive is to consider who...
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Who Decides on the Burial of a Decedent?
Many of us have clear wishes on whether we want to be buried or cremated, and some of us have very clear ideas of what kind of funeral we want or where we want our ashes scattered. But from a legal perspective, who gets to decide?
Surprisingly, not you. A spouse has authority to direct...
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Why Should I Arrange for a Pre-Paid Funeral?
Money. It's that simple. You've probably been there yourself - when a loved one dies, emotions are high, guilts and old "I'm sorry's" never said come rushing to the surface, and the family stumbles into the funeral director's office and ends up spending a lot of money on a very nice funeral.
If you instead...
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Don’t Add Your Child as a Joint Owner on Your Bank Account
So many clients tell me that they want to add a child to their bank account so that the child can help them pay bills and manage their finances, and also so someone will have access to the bank account should anything happen to the parent. I agree - but I don't agree with...
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Putting Assets in Joint Names to Avoid Probate – Will It Work?
Lots of people want to avoid probate. That's the court process that a family must go through to distribute anything that was in the decedent's name alone upon her passing. Despite its bad reputation, probate isn't the end of the world. Yes, it's a hassle, and yes, there are hoops to go through, but...
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