Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Estate Planning Tips For Long-Term Cohabitating Couples In Massachusetts
A growing number of couples are spending their lives together without ever technically getting married. The Pew Research Center reports that more than half of Americans live with a long-term, unmarried partner at some point during their lives. Long-term, unmarried couples have some unique estate planning needs. It is crucial that you and your… Read More »
An Overview Of Adult Guardianship Proceedings In Massachusetts
The need for a guardianship proceeding may be necessary when a person many not be able to manage their own affairs due to either mental or physical inabilities or limitations. It could be because of an illness, such as dementia, a disability, or some other major medical problem. In Massachusetts, a trusted loved one… Read More »
Long-Term Care Planning In Massachusetts: What Is A Medicaid Spend Down?
Long term care costs are almost unfathomably expensive—and they continue to rise. According to data from SeniorLiving, the average monthly cost of a private room in a nursing home in Massachusetts is now an astonishing $13,535. While this is a state average, in our area, private pay rate for skilled care can exceed $16,000… Read More »
Planning To Leave Money Or Property To Charity? Know Your Estate Planning Options
Leaving money or property to support a good cause is important to many people. According to data from the National Philanthropic Trust (NPT), Americans gave nearly $500 billion to charitable causes in 2019 alone. With the proper estate planning strategy, you can be sure that your preferred charitable organization will get the absolute most… Read More »
The Small Business Owners’ Guide To Business Succession Planning In Massachusetts
Small businesses are the backbone of the economy in Massachusetts. Many small business owners want to keep their company in the family for generations. Others may be looking to eventually transition out of the business. Regardless of your goals, it is imperative that you have a comprehensive business succession plan in place. Within this… Read More »
The #1 Way To Avoid Probate
Have you heard of probate? If so, you know that it’s something you want to avoid. If you are waiting on an inheritance, probate is the cause of the delay. Probate is the process of settling someone’s estate when they die and then distributing the remaining assets in accordance with either the decedent’s will… Read More »
Are Conditional Bequests Legal?
If you have recently lost a loved one, you may have learned about the contents of their will. You may have been surprised to learn that there were certain conditions or requirements on your ability to receive your inheritance. This is not very uncommon. In fact, many people place conditions on bequests in their… Read More »
Signs A Massachusetts Will Is A Fake
If you have recently lost a loved one and were more than a little surprised at some of the terms of their Last Will and Testament, you may have reason to believe that their Will was forged or produced as a result of undue influence Forgery is defined as, the making, altering, use, or… Read More »
Who Can Contest A Guardianship?
For most people, losing control of their lives is unfathomable, but for many elderly adults it is a necessity only after the exhaustion of all other viable options. If your elderly loved one is no longer able to care for themselves by making sound decisions about their finances, property, and health, a guardianship and/or… Read More »
How To Honor A Decedent’s Wishes In Questionable Circumstances
If you’ve lost a loved one, the emotional stress from such a life event is generally made worse if the decedent left assets behind in his or her own name, thus requiring a probate. While the administrative and procedural process of probate are time inefficient and the distribution of an inheritance may not occur… Read More »