Hopefully you’ve stocked up on toilet paper and snacks, and are able to ride out the COVID-19 crisis safely at home. There’s a lot of reason to feel hopeful, but preparing for all possibilities has never been more important. With COVID-19 patients being isolated from loved ones, now’s the time to make sure that you […]
Do you have a plan to pay for any long-term care you need in the coming years? If your answer is no, you might be a candidate to apply for MassHealth, the Medicaid program in Massachusetts. Few Americans have the resources to pay for years of nursing-home care. MassHealth coverage could pay for that care, […]
No one wants to think about losing their beloved parents. That’s as true of kindergarteners as it is of grown adults with families of their own. Children of all ages can handle some frank discussion about their parents’ estate planning, though, and in fact may be reassured to know that you’re on top of your […]
As if sleep deprivation and diaper blowouts weren’t making your life hard enough. While you’re in the haze of joy that follows bringing a new child into your family, estate planning is probably not high on your list of jobs you want to tackle. But like sacrificing sleep and changing diapers, estate planning is something […]
These are tumultuous times to be an undocumented immigrant in America. If you or a loved one is undocumented, questions and fears may be constantly running through your mind. In addition to any worries you have about what will happen next week or next month, you may struggle with those same end-of-life questions that plague […]
A new year means new resolutions, new calendars, new deductibles on your health insurance – and, of course, new tax law. The nuances of the current estate tax laws might not affect your daily life. But if you or a loved one die this year, the estate tax exemption for 2020 will suddenly become incredibly […]
Billed as a way to help Americans expand their retirement savings, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act may prove to cut both ways. The SECURE Act, which passed the House of Representatives on May 23, 2019 and was signed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2019, went into effect […]
When pop icon Prince died in 2016, he left behind an estate worth at least $200 million. Three years later, his estate is still unsettled and it’s believed that his closest family members have not yet received any inheritance. Why? Because Prince died intestate, or without a valid will. This is where intestacy laws come […]
Could a credit shelter trust help you preserve wealth to pass on to your loved ones? It’s possible. In basic terms, a credit shelter trust is a type of trust used by married couples to minimize estate tax liability and preserve assets for their descendants. In states with high estate tax thresholds, this type of […]
MassHealth can be both a blessing and a burden. For an eligible Massachusetts resident who needs long-term nursing care and lacks the resources to pay out of pocket, MassHealth coverage may be the solution that makes it possible to get that care. Considering long-term care in Massachusetts often costs upwards of $100,000 per year, many […]
Establishing a trust but failing to fund it is like opening a bank account without depositing a single penny. Your trust may be worth nothing more than the paper it’s printed on until it’s funded. Funding is simply the process of transferring assets into the trust. Those assets aren’t protected by the terms of the […]
Few diagnoses are more devastating than dementia. With 10 million new cases each year, this syndrome touches many families. When your parent is diagnosed with dementia, many things are out of your control. Managing your parent’s healthcare, home management and estate planning needs is a concrete way to help.
Your home: It’s where you’ve made precious memories, and it’s probably the most expensive thing you own. Who do you want to take ownership of it when you die? Property has major emotional and financial attachments, which is why it’s at the center of many inheritance disputes. Putting property in a trust is one way […]
Residents of long-term-care facilities rarely need cash. Room and board, housekeeping and activities are all included in the monthly cost of a nursing home. But what’s a resident to do when she runs out of her favorite perfume, or when he wants to give a birthday gift to a grandchild? If MassHealth is covering the […]
They’re both legal documents, and they can both be used to protect your assets and provide for your loved ones. Wills and trusts are equally important tools for estate planning, but many people are vague on the differences between them. The first thing to know? Wills and trusts aren’t mutually exclusive. You might need both.
