Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorneys serving Hamilton, MA
As we age and expand our families, make new friends, and acquire a family home or assets, we quickly realize the financial support our loved ones will require when we are gone. The importance of a comprehensive estate plan that provides a lasting legacy to those we care about can never be underestimated and an estate planning attorney serving Hamilton can help you.
While you may be considering a do-it-yourself Will, believing it to be a “one and done” process, you—and your loved ones—might be unpleasantly surprised. A simple Will rarely accomplishes what people intend for it to do, particularly if you have more complex financial assets, own a business, or have a special needs family member to care for. Further, passing assets through a Will guarantees a probate process, which can expose your loved ones to substantial expense, time, and the loss of privacy that probate brings.
Speaking to a Family Estate Planning Law Group attorney familiar with Hamilton estate planning needs is the first step toward addressing your wishes regarding end-of-life directives, trusts, wills, and other planning options in the state of Massachusetts. We offer a number of unique solutions to your estate planning needs.
From our initial complimentary consultation to our SAVeT™ program, our Family Care Meeting™, and our ongoing client care program, you, our client, are the primary focus. We are proud of the fact that we build relationships with our clients, rather than having a quick transactional process. Estate planning may be something you’ve been putting off. Our experienced FEPLG estate planning team will ensure you are at ease and comfortable during the entire process.
Should I Do My Own Estate Planning?
It is tempting to avoid hiring an estate planning attorney and simply fill out the blanks of an online Will packet. You may think the process involves only writing down your wishes on a piece of paper, but it is much more complicated than that. While hiring an attorney does mean additional expense, the savings you will earn in avoiding costly processes like probate court and estate taxes make it more than worthwhile.
At Family Estate Planning Law Group, we provide extensive experience in many areas of estate and elder law that may affect your assets. Those that choose to create their own Will or Trust will need a thorough understanding of these laws when making decisions about:
- Eligibility for Medicaid/Medicare, disability, and more
- Estate taxes
- Guardianships
- Long-term care facility planning
- Trust administration
- Fiduciary services
- Special needs planning
- Avoiding probate court processes
- Minimizing the impact of creditors on your estate
As you can see, hiring an estate planning lawyer is not about just paperwork; it is about asset protection strategies and eliminating any potential burdens on your family once you pass away. The last thing any of us want is to put our families through a lengthy probate process that will potentially saddle them with costly financial burdens on our behalf. In Massachusetts, a Will alone all but guarantees such a process will take place.
Strategies for Comprehensive Planning
Our FEPLG estate planning attorneys serving Hamilton can help you through this planning process, creating a multi-generational trust that benefits your family for years to come. Our team of highly trained attorneys can also advise you on options that will help your family avoid exposure to estate tax liabilities and costly court fees. You may want to consider creating a Trust as part of creating a holistic estate plan that will accomplish all your goals.
A Trust is part of a comprehensive solution to help your family avoid probate-related actions. Holding assets in a Trust is often the solution to most clients’ probate-avoidance woes. When choosing to use a Revocable Living Trust, you as the Trustee will retain full control over your assets during life. Even though they are in a Trust, these assets remain in your control and care, and you can use them as you see fit. Assets not held by the trust are potentially subject to probate, which is something most people wish to avoid.
Another important strategy in the estate planning process is having a Health Care Proxy prepared. A Health Care Proxy is a legal document that allows you to appoint a trusted person to make health care decisions for you in the event of your incapacitation. These decisions can include life-saving procedures, life-sustaining treatments, and other medical decisions that require consent. In the state of Massachusetts, the Living Will is not a replacement for a Health Care Proxy. It is important that the person you choose is familiar with the decisions you would make for yourself if you were able.
Why You Need Ongoing Hamilton Estate Planning Services
When hiring an attorney to create your estate plan, it is important to understand that your plan is not a set of once-and-done set of documents. Routinely assessing your estate plan is a part of our ongoing client care program. We know that your life circumstances can change significantly through the years, and your plan needs to change with your life.
Births, deaths, divorce, an increase or decrease in assets, changes in the law, changes in financial institutional rules, or changes in your wishes are monitored by the FEPLG team to ensure your estate plan remains up-to-date. You do not want to die and leave your family a plan that is not current and fails to address changes in your life. At FEPLG, we build a relationship with you through the years. This relationship makes any changes or adjustments less complicated and less stressful.
Perhaps you are eyeing retirement, with the goal of spending some time enjoying Hamilton and beyond. Whether savoring freshly picked apples at Appleton Farms, or any number of other activities, we can ensure that your assets are protected at every stage of your life and your retirement. If you already have an estate plan but have not reviewed it in years, we welcome you to consult with us to assess it. We will recommend any necessary updates to make sure it functions the way you intended.
Reputable Hamilton Estate Planning Attorneys You Can Trust
When creating an estate plan, it is important that you not treat it as a one-time situation. This is a living strategy that must adapt as you experience new milestones in your lifetime. At Family Estate Planning Law Group, we have been providing ongoing estate planning services for over 30 years to the families and surrounding communities of Hamilton, Massachusetts.
You need trustworthy counsel and asset protection strategies that protect your estate and create a lasting legacy for generations to come. Whether you need to plan a business succession or determine how to protect your assets without sacrificing Medicaid/Medicare eligibility, we have you covered.
Our team members understand that end-of-life planning can be an uncomfortable topic, but we provide you with compassionate service and advice to help you provide for your loved ones after you are gone. Working with FEPLG means you get over 30 years of experience in Massachusetts elder care and estate planning law to guide you in building a comprehensive estate plan.
Contact FEPLG today or explore our blog and visit our website to schedule your complimentary consultation. We believe you will be extremely pleased with our estate planning offerings: Our SAVeT™ System, our Family Care Meeting™, and our ongoing client care program. Together, We Plan for Life®.