Smith Lee Nebenzahl Estate Planning
Estate planning with an experienced lawyer can maximize assets for your family, minimize Massachusetts and federal taxes, and simplify the distribution of assets. Estate planning can also provide for you and your family during your lifetime, if you become unable to care for yourself or your family.
If you have children, good estate planning is essential for your family, in order to specify a guardian for minor children and preserve assets for their benefit. If you have special needs children an estate planning lawyer can help you preserve assets to protect those children. An estate planning lawyer can help you avoid needless family disputes in the probate court and waste of assets.
Estate Plans
Wills
Trusts
Durable Powers of Attorney
Health Care Proxies
Why do I need Estate Planning?
No matter what your financial status or age, Smith Lee Nebenzahl estate planning lawyers can provide you with an estate plan that will maximize your assets, minimize Massachusetts and Federal estate taxes and simplify the distribution of your assets. If you have children our lawyers will prepare a plan that will specify who will care for them and preserve assets for their benefit. Our estate planning lawyers can also help you with planning for the management of assets during your lifetime. No matter what your situation, you can trust that our lawyers will provide you with estate planning that efficiently effectuates your wishes while you are living and when you pass.
If you die without a will, your assets will be distributed by the probate court according to Massachusetts law, not your personal wishes. If you have children, the probate court will choose who cares for them. If you have a will YOU get to determine who benefits from your assets when you die and YOU can name the person(s) you feel are most fit to raise your children. A properly drafted will also gives your personal representative the ability to shut down all of your social media. Not doing so can have surprising repercussions. A will is important, but only part of careful estate planning.
Trusts can minimize taxes in order to maximize the amount of your assets that your family can keep. Trusts can prevent your assets from being distributed through probate court, which can be costly. Trusts can also ensure that your assets are used to care for you and your loved ones during your lifetime. Trusts can be established to benefit children, family, friends or charities, and can provide for special needs children without disrupting government benefits. Our estate planning lawyers will listen to your concerns and explain your options. Our lawyers have the skill and expertise to counsel you on the appropriate course for your situation.
A health care proxy designates a person to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself. You can give that person instructions on what your wishes are, including whether you wish to be placed on life support. You can also include what kind of treatments you do or don't want under various circumstances. Our estate planning lawyers will prepare a health care proxy that properly reflects your wishes.
Why is a power of attorney useful for me?
A power of attorney allows you to name someone you trust to access your assets and make financial decisions on your behalf. A power of attorney can be useful if you are travelling, or if you suddenly become ill or incapacitated. The person who holds your power of attorney to could pay your children’s tuition, pay your mortgage, obtain a loan on your behalf etc… Our estate planning lawyers will be happy to discuss whether this is something that makes sense for you. Giving someone a power of attorney is an important decision, and it is not the right answer for everyone. Our lawyers have the expertise to work through all relevant considerations with you.
Estate Planning Resources