Will, Trust & Estate Planning Attorney

Serving clients in Burlington, Cambridge, Lexington, and the Greater Boston Area

What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones

In Massachusetts, like most other states, if you die without a will, you will be said to have died “intestate.”  In this circumstance, except for property held in a trust or otherwise subject to other type of transfer (such as property held as joint tenants with right of survivorship or money in a “pay-on-death” account), all your assets must be transferred in accordance with Massachusetts intestate law.

This law requires that all people of a certain class (such as children of a deceased parent where there is no surviving spouse) must receive an equal share of property. It does not matter whether the decedent wanted to disinherit a child, or to provide one child with more assets than another.

Importantly, when there is no will, the decedent’s verbal wishes for property distribution do not need to be respected.  So, for example, a personal representative may sell all of the decedent’s jewelry and distribute the proceeds equally among the decedent’s children, instead of giving the jewelry to specific family members (as the decedent may have wanted).

As a Result, Not Having a Will Can Lead to Many Problems, Including Fighting Among Survivors for Family Heirlooms.  Don’t Let this be Your Legacy.

As a Massachusetts estate planning attorney, I help clients create effective estate plans that protect their interests during life and effectuate the distribution as desired upon death.  Once I understand your estate distribution wishes, I can work with you to create an affordable estate plan based upon your needs.

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Please call to ask for our FREE estate planning kit.  We are happy to meet at a time that is convenient for you to discuss your estate planning needs.