Legal Briefs

By Margot B. Birke April 16, 2011 was the fourth annual National Healthcare Decisions Day. Sponsored by the American Bar Association, the National Healthcare Decisions...

By Linda T. Cammuso Last month, I discussed the probate process and people’s efforts to avoid probate, which often results in needless exposure of their...

You may be taking care of elderly parents now or looking at that possibility in the near future. According to a report from USA Today/ABC News/Gallup Poll, 41 percent of baby boomers are helping take care of elderly parents by providing personal help, financial assistance or both.

We hear a lot these days about probate, usually in the context of avoiding it. New clients working with an estate planning attorney usually start the conversation by saying, “No matter what it takes, I want to stay away from probate.” Probate avoidance is a common and appropriate goal in the estate planning process.

By Linda T. Cammuso Until now, Massachusetts residents were prohibited from providing direct financial support for the care of a surviving pet upon the owner’s...

By Cathleen Summers We are often contacted by clients and asked to explain the homestead law here in Massachusetts. What are the advantages of declaring...

By Margot Birke In order to understand Medicaid qualifications, you first need to know how Medicaid treats your assets. Basically, Medicaid breaks your assets down...

By Margot Birke Today we face the real possibility, as we grow older, of seeking long-term care in a nursing home for ourselves or for...

By Linda T. Cammuso Until now, Massachusetts homeowners had to choose between homestead protection — which safeguards the equity in one’s home from attachment by...

By Cathleen Summers Do you know what happens if you die without a will? The courts will decide who will raise your children, manage your...