Ladimer Law Blog

Hopefully, you’ll never be in a car accident. You still have car insurance, just in case. And hopefully, you’ll never be incapacitated and be unable to make decisions for yourself—but just in case, you should have a power of attorney and health care proxy. They’re essential estate planning documents for all adults. Even an 18-year-old […]

Estate planning combines legal, financial and emotional decision making. Drawing on the help of trusted advisors is the best way to make sure your estate plans will actually do what you want them to do. As your estate planning attorneys help you sort through your choices around trusts, wills and other estate planning documents, a […]

Who in your life can you trust to honor your wishes? That’s the question at the heart of a lot of decisions you’ll get to make during estate planning. This process affords you the opportunity to put in place several layers of protection for your future and your loved ones’ futures. 

A new administration generally means new tax laws. So in these last few months, I’ve heard from many clients with questions about how the Biden presidency will affect them. I was recently asked about the potential repeal of the policy that allows step-up in basis, and wanted to share some thoughts with anyone who’s concerned […]

When you receive an inheritance from a loved one, or benefit from a trust established for you, it may feel like a gift. Being given a check or piece of property with no work required on your part is the kind of thing people daydream about. But when you’re named as a beneficiary in a […]

For Massachusetts residents who can’t afford the healthcare they need, MassHealth steps in to fill the gap. But MassHealth carefully controls costs, and not everyone gets everything covered. The program assigns applicants different coverage types depending on factors including income and immigration status. It can be hard to know exactly what MassHealth will pay for […]

The phrase “death tax” might send a little shiver down your spine. It sounds like something out of a futuristic sci-fi story, or maybe a horror movie about killer accountants. In reality, the U.S. tax code doesn’t specifically mention death taxes. Death tax is an umbrella term that’s colloquially used to describe taxes that kick […]

When you give the perfect gift, you want to bask in the recipient’s excitement—not fill out a gift tax return. I know there’s a lot of confusion around the gift tax, especially around the holidays.  Federal gift tax law does require certain gifts to be reported and taxed, with the onus on the giver. Fortunately, […]

After years of helping clients navigate Massachusetts estate planning, I know how much stress and confusion the Massachusetts estate tax can cause Commonwealth residents. People tend to come to me armed with a lot of questions about exactly how this tax will affect them. Will my estate owe this tax? If I’m someone’s executor, what […]

You’ve spent decades taking care of your most treasured possessions and working to grow your wealth. All that care wasn’t just about protecting those things during your lifetime, but preserving them for the next generation. Sometimes understanding the laws in this area can be confusing. A common misconception is that there are specific inheritance laws. […]

The estate tax is a tax that’s levied on a person’s estate when they die and their assets are transferred to their heirs.  How much of what you’ve earned will go to estate taxes when you die? These taxes may cost some immigrant families more than they do other American families, so it’s critical to […]

Julie and Jessica have both been selected as Rising Stars three years running. Honorees are named by Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters. This is an elite recognition with only the top 2.5% of attorneys in a given state selected as Rising Stars.

Mistakes happen. If you’re lucky, most of your mistakes will have minor consequences. Making a wrong turn adds 15 minutes to your trip. Forgetting to return a shirt that doesn’t fit means you’re stuck with it, and out $50. But estate planning mistakes are rarely minor or cheap, and their consequences can sometimes affect your […]

There are certain things that you kind of have to do on your own, like interviewing for a job or rowing a single kayak. And then there are those things that you maybe can do on your own, but are a whole lot easier with professional help—moving furniture, filing your taxes, selling your home. From […]

A question I’m often asked when it comes to estate planning is, do I get any say in how a beneficiary can use the money I leave them? Whoever inherits your retirement accounts could have a lot of freedom in how they use that money, for good or bad. At the same time, this beneficiary […]

Will you need nursing-home care someday? And if you do, will you be able to afford the five-figure monthly fees out of pocket? Many Americans don’t have the means to afford long-term care. That’s where Medicaid steps in. Called MassHealth in Massachusetts, this program can be a lifeline for the Commonwealth residents who need its […]

There’s nothing easy about the death of a loved one, and there’s no way to totally circumvent the difficult stuff. The only way out is through—and that’s true of both grief and probate.  It’s very common for a decedent’s (person who died) estate to go through probate, the court-supervised process of proving a will and […]

Antique jewelry, classic cars, valuable collectibles: Any vintage lover knows that sometimes, old is better than new. Not when it comes to your estate plan, though. The estate planning documents you created in the past won’t necessarily serve you well today.

For Massachusetts residents 65 and older, and those residents who need long-term care, MassHealth coverage can be a literal lifesaver. MassHealth (the Massachusetts version of Medicaid) will pay for necessary medical services, including in-home care and nursing-home residency. These benefits may be worth thousands of dollars per month, so MassHealth has stringent eligibility requirements. Your […]

You didn’t get married for the tax perks – but, hey, it’s not like you’re going to turn them down. In this state, like many others, married couples can benefit from special tax provisions in a variety of areas, including the Massachusetts estate tax marital deduction. The deduction available to married American couples can help […]