Estate Planning is the on-going process of securing for yourself, your family or the other objects of your bounty the maximum benefits from the use and possession of your property during your life . In addition, it provides a means of transferring, upon your death, this property to your beneficiaries with a minimum of taxes.
The estate planning process begins with an initial review of the assets of your estate, your current estate planning documents (if any), and the goals and objectives which you would like to accomplish.
The estate planning process also calls upon the talents and expertise of others such as your accountant or CPA, investment advisor, insurance agent, trust officer or financial planner. These individuals may also be consulted in the course of the planning process. After a thorough review of this information, the following areas will be discussed:
 | Estate tax liability; |
| Costs of estate administration; |
| Fiduciaries; |
| Beneficiaries. |
In addition, the ways of savings estate taxes, administration expenses and the other benefits of trusts will also be explored.
Once a plan is decided upon, the appropriate legal documents will be prepared. These may include a will, trust, durable power of attorney, standby guardianship proxy, living will or health care proxy. These will be reviewed by you prior to execution to insure that they conform to the your wishes.
Also, once the documents are executed, the plan will be implemented by assisting you with changing ownership, transferring property or other steps necessary to make your plan work.
Finally, you will receive our newsletter which will keep you abreast of important changes in the law.
Estate administration is the process of settling a person’s estate either with or without a will. It involves the filing of documents with the probate court, obtaining appraisal’s of property, collecting assets, paying debts, expenses and taxes, filing tax returns and the preparation of accountings to be filed in court.
Trust administration is the day to day operation of a trust. It involves collecting income, investing of assets, paying beneficiaries, preparation of tax returns and trust statements.
We are able to assist you with all or any of these tasks.
In addition to our estate planning service, we also can assist you in the preparation of wills, codicils, trusts, living wills, health care proxies, standby guardianship proxies, general and special powers of attorney where a complicated estate plan is not required.
We also provide tax and legal services to charitable foundations and other charitable entities including the preparation of applications for determination letters from the IRS.
We also prepare annuity and uni-trusts for individuals interested in providing for themselves, other individuals and charitable beneficiaries.
We are able to assist individuals in the appointment of guardians and conservators for members of their families should the circumstances arise.
We will assist you in the preparation of all State, Local and Federal Income tax returns for fiduciaries.
We are able to assist you in the preparation of any Federal or State Estate, Inheritance, Succession or Gift tax return.
We are also able to offer assistance in the settlement of Massachusetts Inheritance tax cases and the preparation of Inheritance tax forms.
We are able to assist individuals in the formation of new businesses whether as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a limited liability company or as a corporation.
In addition, we provide on-going maintenance of corporate records and corporate filings as required by law.
We are able to represent individuals and others in the purchase and sale of real estate.
We also represent banks and mortgage companies in real estate transactions and are an approved agent for a nationally recognized title insurance company.
We also assist individuals in the creation of realty trusts.
We are able to assist individuals in the filing of personal bankruptcy should financial circumstances require it.
