An Important Holiday Check-In With Aging Parents
Over the years, your parents have likely been a great source of information and advice, some well received, other times no so much. However, now that they are entering the... The post An Important...
View ArticleMedicaid Forces Insurance Spend Down
When speaking with groups about Medicaid (MassHealth) planning, I often get asked about life insurance policies and how they will be treated when applying for MassHealth benefits. Many people...
View ArticleEstate Planning Lessons from Downton Abbey
***Spoiler Alert for Season 4, Episode 1*** If you, like me, are one of the many fans of PBS’s series “Downton Abbey,” you probably caught the season four premier last... The post Estate Planning...
View ArticleEstate Planning with Facebook?
Estate planning is often something we relate to wills, trusts and other serious money matters. However, with the proliferation of social media sites and the impact our online interactions can... The...
View ArticleEstate Planning Lessons from Paul Walker’s Tragedy
Actor Paul Walker, best known for his roles in The Fast and the Furious franchise, died on November 30, 2013 in a one car accident near his home in California. Only 40 years old at the time of his...
View ArticleEstate Planning for Business Owners: Tax Benefits of Charitable Remainder Trusts
Most successful business owners have spent years building their business into a profitable enterprise. However, as retirement approaches they are often discouraged to find that selling their business...
View ArticleWeighing Your Social Security Options
For many elder law clients in Woburn, Social Security benefits represent a very large portion of their post-retirement income. Because of the way that the system has changed since... The post Weighing...
View ArticleMaking a Charitable Organization the Beneficiary of Your Life Insurance Policy
Clients come to my Woburn estate planning office with a desire to make a difference to the next generation. Obviously, there is a need to plan for children and grandchildren, but many Massachusetts...
View ArticleWill the Inheritance You Leave Be a Blessing or an Albatross?
Rock musician Sting recently announced that his children will not inherit his estimated $300 million fortune, saying that these riches are “albatrosses around their necks.” The product of a British...
View ArticleFinancial Self-Protection Tips for the Newly Single
Whether you have a lost a spouse or partner through divorce or death, being thrust into singlehood can be an emotionally and financially jarring experience. To get yourself back on firm footing, at...
View ArticleEstate Planning for Minors: Guardianship
This week’s post is the first in our back-to-school series, focusing on estate planning for minor children. If you have a school-age child, by now you are already fully immersed in all things back to...
View ArticleOptions for Charitable Estate Planning
Childless seniors are more likely to leave money and assets to charity after they die than any other group. If you fit into that category and are wondering what to do with your charitable planning,...
View ArticleLook For the Helpers
It’s the time of year to reconnect with our families and make plans for the future. Now, we not only reflect upon what has come to pass, but also look forward. Of course, sometimes reflection is...
View ArticlePet Trust Problems for Simpsons Creator
When animal-lover and The Simpsons co-creator, Sam Simon, died early in 2015, he left behind a hefty estate, much of which was slated to go directly to non-profit animal philanthropy groups. In...
View ArticleCharitable Giving: The Greatest Gift
In this season of giving, it is important to recognize those who give back. Kirk Douglas, widely known for his lengthy career in the movies, can add one more star to his personal walk of fame and that...
View Article2016: The Year of Your Estate Plan
As outlined recently by Business Insider, even people who seem to have it all–famous and highly successful people–make New Year’s Resolutions. Interestingly, most of them focus not on how to make...
View ArticleEstate Planning for Pets: They already think they run the place anyway!
If your pets are like mine, they already think they run the show in your home. But few people who have a Will have made provisions for their pets. Though it’s hard to think of our pets without us, the...
View ArticleAttorney Karr Presents to Boston Bar on Estate Planning with Real Estate
Real estate is an essential part of most family’s financial portfolio. It is often the most valuable asset a family has and its value contributes significantly to the total value of the estate....
View ArticleSpecial Needs Estate Planning Considerations
If you are the parent of a child with special needs, you are likely faced with more challenges to overcome than you may have thought possible. You may be seeking resources to help you cope with wide...
View ArticleCharitable Giving Through Estate Planning
For many, charitable giving is a way of life. Whether it is to support an organization that has touched your life in a meaningful way, a school or university that put you on the road to success, or...
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