Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Trust Planning In Massachusetts: Nominee Realty Trusts
Do you own real estate? If so, it is important to consider the best strategy to handle it in your estate plan. In Massachusetts, nominee realty trusts are a unique tool often used for real estate ownership. Unlike traditional trusts, they act primarily as a title-holding vehicle. One potentially major advantage is that they… Read More »
How Long Is A Typical Will In Massachusetts
A last will and testament is a foundational estate planning document. Every adult should have a well-constructed will. You may be wondering: How long is a typical will in Massachusetts? The short answer is “it depends.” Though, a standard will is usually somewhere between three pages and twenty-six pages, depending upon the goals of… Read More »
Can I Change My Estate Plan As Many Times As I Want?
Life changes. Your estate plan should be able to change with it. In Massachusetts, you generally have the right to revise your estate plan as often as you wish. Whether you want to update a will, modify a trust, or change beneficiaries, the law permits repeated changes as long as you have legal capacity…. Read More »
I Am Married And Do Not Have Children—Do I Still Need An Estate Plan?
Are you married without children? You are certainly not alone. According to the Pew Research Center, more than one in three married couples are currently in the same position. Even if you are married without children, you still need an estate plan. All adults in Massachusetts should have a well-constructed estate plan in place…. Read More »
Four Things You Should Not Do When Writing A Will In Massachusetts
Drafting a will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family and your legacy. Even with the best of intentions, issues do arise in estate administration when a will is poorly constructed or executed that causes confusion, disputes, or even invalidates the will altogether. Massachusetts has strict rules… Read More »
Estate Planning: What Is The Best Way To Leave Money To A Grandchild?
Are you a grandparent in Massachusetts who is reviewing your estate plan? If so, you may be considering the best way to leave money or property to your grandchild(ren). There are a number of different options available to do so. At Fisher Law LLC, we help people and families find the best solution for… Read More »
Estate Planning For Unmarried Parents: How To Name A Guardian
According to data from the Pew Research Center, a growing percentage of parents with minor children are unmarried. They may be divorced or separated, but still together as parents. Regardless of the situation, unmarried parents have some unique estate planning needs, one of which may include the process for naming a guardian for their… Read More »
My Elderly Parent’s Estate Plan Is A Mess, What Can I Do?
Do you have aging parents? If so, you may be getting increasingly worried about helping them plan for the future. One key issue you should consider is whether or not they have a comprehensive, up-to-date estate plan in place. This raises an important question: What can I do if my elderly parent needs estate… Read More »
Does A Will Need To Be Notarized In Massachusetts?
Are you writing a will? If so, you need to make sure that all of the legal requirements for the document are satisfied so that it will be legally enforceable. You may be wondering: Does a will need to be notarized to be legally valid in Massachusetts? The short answer is “no.” Although getting… Read More »
Know Your Estate Planning Options: 529 Plans
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) explains that a 529 plan is a “plan operated by a state or educational institution, with tax advantages and potentially other incentives to make it easier to save for college and other post-secondary training.” If you have funds within a 529 plan, there are important estate planning considerations. Here,… Read More »