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Your Resource for Estate Planning Solutions

Nobody wants to plan for their own death or disability, but we all know how important this is. Do you want a say in who raises your children if something happens to you and your spouse? Do you want to make sure your family does not have to wrestle with conflicts, lawyers, and prolonged court involvement after you are gone? Do you want to protect as much of your legacy as possible from estate taxes and probate costs?

Of course you do. But if you are like most people, you don't know what you need or where to start. There may be a lot of reasons you don't have a plan, but you worry a little bit all the time, in the back of your head, about it.

That's where we can help. It may seem overwhelming to you, but our estate planning team can help you understand what you need to accomplish your goals- it could be a simple will naming guardians for your children and a personal representative, a trust that allows distribution according to your wishes over time, a trust that protects your assets from the cost of long term care, or a combination of wills and trusts. We have the tools for almost every situation, and can help you get the right plan in place.

Why Do You Need an Estate Plan?

You may think you are not wealthy enough to consider estate planning. If you are a married couple you may think that you do not need an estate plan because most of your assets are real estate and life insurance which will pass to your spouse anyway.

There are many reasons you need an estate plan, however. These include avoiding the probate process, making a plan for minor children, and creating a health care proxy and durable power of attorney so that someone can make decisions for you if you are unable to.  There are also special considerations if you or your spouse is not a United States citizen.

What Goals Can You Acheive With an Estate Plan?

​What you do with your estate planning will depend of course on your family's needs and your wishes. You can read more here about the essential estate planning documents most families need at each major stage of life, and also about special circumstances that may affect your planning.  Here are some examples of goals you can achieve with an estate plan: 
  • Identifying a guardian for your minor children. This is usually done in your will.
  • Making sure your assets are distributed to the people you want to have them. This can be done in your will and/or in a trust.
  • Naming a trusted adult to hold and manage assets if your children inherit when they are minors or young adults, and providing guidance to your children's legal guardians about your wishes for your children. This is usually done through one or more trusts.
  • Providing for your surviving spouse for his or her lifetime but preserving assets to ultimately go to your children or other family member. This is usually done through a combination of wills and trusts.
  • Minimizing or avoiding liability for federal or Massachusetts estate tax.
  • Appointing a person to make medical decisions for you in case you are unable to with a health care proxy.
  • Appointing a person to make financial or legal decisions for you if you are unable to with a durable power of attorney.
  • Avoiding or minimizing the need to hire lawyers to go to probate court to distribute your assets. This is usually done with a combination of wills and trusts, usually including a living trust.
  • Providing for a child with special needs without threatening eligibility for government benefits through a Special Needs Trust.
  • Protecting real property and other assets from the costs of nursing home care with a Medicaid or Irrevocable Trust)​.​
  • Making sure you and your assets are still protected after a divorce.
  • Addressing the unique estate planning needs facing blended families.
  • Planning for the smooth transition of your business in the event of your death or disability.
  • Ensuring the proper care and support of your animals after your death.

How We Can Help

We understand how personal this decision is.  We also understand that individuals and families all have unique needs and wishes- we are not here to judge those wishes, but simply to help make sure they come to pass.

​Our lead estate planning lawyer, Jenna Ordway, has been helping families prepare their estate plans since 2013.  In addition to her law degree, Jenna has a masters degree (LLM) in taxation, and has written a book "The Road to Peace of Mind- What You Need to Know About Estate Planning") to help you better understand the issues and your options as you consider your estate plan. 

Our founder and owner, Emily Smith-Lee, has been practicing law for 22 years, and has operated her practice as a local small business for the past ten years.   She has been named on the Massachusetts Super Lawyers List every year since 2013, and was named a 2018 Lawyer of the Year by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Emily is committed to the community, and has been a local elected official in Sharon for nine years, eight as a School Committee member and currently as a member of the Board of Selectmen. 

Need Help With Your Estate Plan?

Jenna Ordway
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Testimonials
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"Slnlaw did a fantastic job.... Their attorneys were very friendly and knowledgeable, and I never felt pressured to purchase any service. I would definitely recommend them!"  Michael S.

"It was a pleasure working with with Emily Smith-Lee... She willingly shares her expertise and always listens to her clients' concerns. Emily's caring demeanor puts people at ease immediately. The outcome of my experience was quite favorable. I would highly recommend them."  Camille B.

"SLN Law was prompt, courteous and very professional.  Emily responded quickly to my request, was very knowledgeable on the topic I needed help with and provided reasonable, sound advice.  I would definitely recommend this law firm to others and would use them again, if needed."  E.C.

​"From my first conversation with Emily, I knew I had picked the right law firm to handle my Estate Plan after having procrastinated for some time before I decided it was time to get my estate in order. Previously, I spoke with a couple other lawyers and I did not feel comfortable with their approach prior to calling Emily. Jenna did an excellent job in assessing what I wanted to accomplish and completed my will, trust and other documents in a very short time. I am so happy I made the right choice in choosing slnlaw as my estate team.."  Evelyn W.

Read more on our reviews page ​​

Ready to Get Started?

Our estate planning attorneys are ready to help.  We have a simple process for getting you from wherever you are now to executed and final documents.  It starts with an initial consultation, which is absolutely free.  You can use the button below to schedule your consultation, or simply give us a call at  781-784-2322, or fill out our web form.