Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Revising An Estate Plan: Should I Write A New Will From Scratch Or Revise My Existing Will?
Every adult needs a well-drafted Will. If you have one—which the AARP notes that 60 percent of adults do not—you are in a good position. That being said, an outdated Will may not effectively protect your best interests. You should review, and if needed, revise, your estate plan on a regular basis. This raises… Read More »
Long-Term Care Planning In Massachusetts: Does Medicare Cover Nursing Homes?
Senior Living reports that the average monthly cost of a private room in a nursing home in Massachusetts now exceeds $14,300 per month. While that may be the average, the most common cost is $550 per day or $16,500 per month. Either figure is an extraordinarily high figure. This raises an important question: Does… Read More »
Where Should I Keep My Estate Plan?
Do you have an estate plan? You should. Unfortunately, CNBC cited data showing that two-thirds of American adults do not have one at all. You need a comprehensive, well-written, and properly crafted estate plan that is communicated to your closest loved ones. This raises an important question: Where should you keep your estate plan?… Read More »
Planning For Incapacity In Massachusetts A Checklist That You Can Use
A well-designed estate plan should be comprehensive. Among other things, that means planning for incapacity. While it can be uncomfortable for many people to think about, the reality is that there could come a day when you can no longer reasonably manage your own affairs. At Fisher Law LLC, we help people and families… Read More »
Do You Have To Pay Taxes On A House That You Inherited In Massachusetts?
For many people, because their house is their most valuable asset, it is the central or pivotal piece to their estate plan. . Real estate may be passed on to a child or another individual(s). What happens when someone inherits real estate in Massachusetts? Will they be required to pay taxes? Within this blog… Read More »
Can An Estate Skip Probate In Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts Court System explains that probate is “the process of transferring property and ownership after someone has died.” Unfortunately, probate can sometimes be a slow, frustrating process. This raises an important question: Can you skip probate in Massachusetts? The short answer is “it depends”—some estates in the Commonwealth can bypass formal probate. Within… Read More »
Can I Transfer Real Estate Into A Trust?
For many people, real estate is among their most valuable assets. Protecting real estate—whether you are dealing with your primary residence, a rental unit, or any other property—is an important part of estate planning. This raises an important question: Can I transfer my real estate in a trust? In Massachusetts, the answer is “yes”—but… Read More »
Can I Leave Money To Charity Through My Will?
Are you interested in supporting a good cause through your estate? You may be wondering: Can I leave money to a charity using my Will? The short answer is “yes”—though, depending on the amount and the purpose, a charitable trust can sometimes be a better option. Within this article, our Boston estate planning attorney… Read More »
Dealing With Housing: Considerations For Seniors In Massachusetts
Housing is an incredibly important issue for senior citizens and their families. Seniors need to be sure that they have a safe, secure, comfortable, and financially-viable living arrangement. Beyond that, senior citizens also need to have the right estate planning documents in place to protect their property and deal with it after they pass… Read More »
Can You Change Your Will On Your Deathbed?
A Last Will and Testament or Will is a key estate planning document. It is crucial that your Will truly reflect your intentions. As long as a person is legally competent, he or she retains the right to make changes to a Will—even if they are on their deathbed. In Massachusetts deathbed changes to… Read More »