Having a comprehensive estate plan is important for everyone. It can help ensure that the estate planner's wishes are honored and provide peace of mind to both the estate planner and family members during a difficult time.Estate planning is not only for wealthy...
Estate Planning
Estate planning basics and probate questions, continued
As discussed previously on our Quincy legal issues blog, sometimes a deceased person's estate will need to go through the probate process to legally transfer the decedent's assets and work through any issues left unresolved at the time of death. Careful estate...
Understanding probate as part of estate planning basics
Many Quincy residents will have one major question surrounding their estates or the estate of a loved one: how to avoid probate. Before delving into the subject of avoiding probate, we will spend some time making sure that our readers are clear on just when it is...
What should Quincy residents include in a basic will? (Part 2)
Far too often, Quincy residents pass away without leaving any written indication of how their estate should be handled. Not only does this risk their assets being distributed in a manner against what their wishes might have been, but it exposes their estates to legal...
What should Quincy residents include in a basic will? (Part 1)
Drafting a will is one of those things that far too many Quincy residents put off for later. Part of this is simply trying to find the time in a busy week to deal with issues that seem so far removed from day-to-day life. Another part is simply not knowing where to...
Two main types of trusts: living and testamentary
A recent post here on our Quincy legal issues blog reviewed an unfortunate case in which family members became divided over their parents' estate after they had passed. One component of the parents' estate planning involved the use of a trust to protect their assets...
Choice of trustee, transparency important in estate planning
Sometimes, it may seem like Quincy residents are doing everything right in setting up and protecting one's estate for the benefit of one's heirs. One may expect that a certain level of trust among family and community members will carry on after one has passed away....
Estate planning and caring for elderly parents
Adult Quincy residents in their forties and fifties today are part of what has been referred to as the "sandwich" generation. They are sandwiched, that is, between caring for their kids and caring for their own elderly parents.Providing care for aging parents --...
Including a special needs trust in an estate plan
When Quincy residents are beginning to plan for how their assets will one day be distributed among their heirs, there's a natural inclination to want to provide for those who need support the most. Those with children and grandchildren living with disabilities or...
Estate planning: a valuable New Year’s resolution
The last days of 2017 are upon us. In just a few short weeks, Quincy residents will flip the calendar over to the New Year. As they do, many will embark upon New Year's resolutions. Getting into better physical shape, giving up bad habits and trying new things are all...