Advance Healthcare Directives: Making Your Wishes Known
Medical emergencies can happen when we least expect them. If you were unable to communicate, would your family know what medical treatments you want—or don’t want? Without clear instructions, doctors may make decisions based on standard protocols, not your personal values. Loved ones could be left guessing, and disagreements might arise. An...
Spring Weddings and Estate Planning: What Newlyweds Need to Know
Marriage is about partnership, trust, and building a future together. While it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a wedding, it’s just as important to think about long-term planning. Estate planning helps protect you and your spouse, ensuring that your wishes are honored and your assets are handled according...
What Is a Pet Trust and How to Include One in Your Estate Plan
Your pet is more than just an animal—they’re a beloved companion and a part of your family. You make sure they have food, a safe home, and the care they need. But what happens if you’re no longer there to provide for them? Many pet owners assume a friend or family member...
The Importance of Personalized Estate Planning: Be Cautious of Online Platforms
Estate planning is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family and your future. A well-prepared plan ensures your assets go to the right people, avoids unnecessary legal complications, and provides peace of mind. Many people turn to online platforms for convenience, assuming a simple form will...
Navigating the Complexities of Estate Planning for Blended Families
Blended families bring love and connection, but planning for the future can raise difficult questions. You may want to support your spouse while ensuring children from a previous marriage receive their rightful inheritance. Without clear instructions, state laws could distribute your assets in ways you never intended. Family relationships and financial concerns...
Selling a House During the Probate Process
When a loved one passes away, life changes dramatically for those who are left behind to grieve. An added challenge is ensuring that the estate is properly settled during the probate process. Selling the decedent’s house or other real property may be a necessary step to ensure that estate assets are properly...
Is Probate Still Required If There Is a Surviving Spouse?
Probate is a court-supervised process that is required to settle many estates and ensure that creditors and heirs receive what is owed to them. However, probate does take time and can be expensive. Many individuals wonder if the process is required in a situation where one spouse survives the other’s passing....
The Elective Share: How Much Does the Spouse Get?
When it comes to estate planning, many people are surprised to learn that a spouse can’t be entirely disinherited under Massachusetts law. Whether you're the surviving spouse concerned about your rights or someone looking to limit your spouse's inheritance, it's important to understand the concept of the elective share. This legal...
Choosing Your Healthcare Proxy: Selecting the Right Person to Make Decisions
A healthcare proxy is a document that allows an individual to designate someone else to make medical decisions on their behalf in the event they are unable to do so for themselves. Together with other instruments like a living will (a/k/a advance directive) the healthcare proxy helps individuals preserve their medical autonomy...
What Do I Do When a Loved One Unexpectedly Passes Away?
The sudden passing of a loved one brings immense grief as surviving family members struggle to cope with the loss. Besides the heavy emotional toll that you must face, there are the financial and legal realities to which you must now adapt. The estate planning attorneys of LaFountain & Wollman P.C....