Estate Planning and Probate
The firm’s skilled estate planning attorneys work closely with clients to understand their goals and concerns, and to develop and implement a plan that protects their family and assets, minimizes taxes, and preserves wealth for future generations. The firm’s expertise includes an understanding of the complex estate planning issues facing business owners and high-net worth families, and our team is well-equipped to provide guidance on all matters of estate planning, estate taxation, business succession planning and charitable giving.
The firm assists our clients in planning for the distribution of assets at death and minimizing or eliminating Massachusetts and federal estate taxes. For younger couples with non-taxable estates, we provide guidance through the process of executing a will and choosing a guardian and establishing trusts for minor children. For clients with taxable estates, our firm provides advice on estate tax planning techniques and strategies including marital deduction/credit shelter trusts and irrevocable life insurance trusts. We work closely with other advisors (attorneys, accountants, financial planners, mortgage brokers) in order to arrive at an estate plan that serves all of the client’s needs.
Our attorneys handle all aspects of probate and estate settlement cases, and represent clients in probate court on issues including contested probate petitions. We will guide you through the process of filing a probate petition, giving notice to required parties, filing needed probate forms, preparing any required estate tax returns, gift tax returns and fiduciary income tax returns and distributing assets to heirs.
Our experienced attorneys work closely with clients to determine what services will best suit their needs, which include the following:
● Estate Planning
● Living Wills & Advanced Directives
● Last Wills & Testaments
● Revocable Trusts
● Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
● Family Gifting Trusts
● Asset Protection Trusts
● Special Needs Trusts
● Durable Powers of Attorney
● Health Care Proxies
● HIPAA Authorizations
● Incapacity Documentation