MassHealth coverage is, quite literally, a lifesaver. It allows Massachusetts residents to get the medical coverage and long-term nursing care that they need but can’t afford. But like most government-run programs, MassHealth applications require members to navigate a complicated process before they get covered. Here are just a few of the most common pitfalls to […]
Ladimer Law is pleased to announce that Julie McQuade Ladimer and Jessica Pesce have been recognized as two of the top young attorneys in Massachusetts. Julie and Jessica have both been selected as Rising Stars for 2018 – 2019. Honorees are named by Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters. Only the top 2.5% of attorneys […]
On a difficulty scale from “applying for a library card” to “applying for citizenship,” applying for MassHealth falls somewhere in the middle. It’s a straightforward process that requires a dauntingly long application and a bit of a wait. The MassHealth application process often takes a few months from start to finish. For Massachusetts residents who […]
Estate Planning: Essential Documents for Young Adults At 18 we feel invincible, and like our life is just beginning, so planning for seemingly impossible what-ifs might seem unnecessary. But life is nothing if not unpredictable. 18 is an age when we want to feel in control but often also feel secure under the parent-child relationship, […]
Buying life insurance is supposed to be a way to provide financial security for the people you leave behind. If that expensive policy actually triggers an estate tax to be levied against your estate, is there any point in buying life insurance at all? The answer is yes, but only if you know how to […]
If only he had saved more. If only she had invested in this fund instead of that one. If only he had picked the right lottery numbers. As attorneys specializing in long-term care planning, we see clients grapple with those “if-onlys” all the time. They’ve reached a point at which they need long-term care, but […]
Yachts, ski chalets, chartered jets, trusts: one of these things is not like the others. Contrary to popular belief, establishing a trust isn’t a luxury reserved for the ultra-rich. Yes, trusts are often used by the wealthy to shield assets and pass money from one generation to the next. That’s just one way that trusts […]
Becoming eligible for MassHealth, the Massachusetts version of Medicaid, requires walking a financial tightrope. An applicant with too much money must get rid of it in order to become eligible – but once she’s approved, she may not have enough to cover basic needs, let alone incidentals. For people in that situation, maintaining the financial […]
Do you remember how much money you had five years ago? Do you know how much you’ll have in five years? Unless you keep meticulous financial records and have a crystal ball, you probably can’t say yes to both questions. Here in Massachusetts, five years is a significant time period. That’s the length of the […]
The only thing that’s certain about death is that we’ll all face it eventually. But the hows, whens, wheres, what happens next – for most people, those are all uncertainties. While those existential questions have no answers, sorting out the financial consequences of your death is doable in the here and now.
Could your loved ones use an extra $100,000? Creating a credit shelter trust could be one way to keep more money in your estate rather than losing it to estate taxes. Credit shelter trusts are related to marital deduction and estate tax laws. Here in Massachusetts, an estate worth less than $1 million is not […]
In some contexts, $2,000 seems like a lot of money. Winning $2,000 on a lottery ticket or earning an unexpected bonus would be enough to finance a dream trip or pay off a major bill. But if you’re 65 and thinking about your end-of-life needs, having only $2,000 in the bank would be terrifying. Looking […]
“…in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” ~Benjamin Franklin As adults know too well, death and taxes truly are unavoidable. However, not all adults realize that tax liability doesn’t always end at death. Depending on what you own at the time of your death, the loved ones who […]
How Estate Planning Can Save Your Loved Ones From Financial and Emotional Turmoil Later When was the last time you thought about your hot water heater? Unless you’ve had a recent problem, it’s probably been a while. Sure, it will break someday; hot water heaters generally only last 10 to 15 years. But life is […]
