Elder and Estate Law Blog

Both Massachusetts and our neighbor to the north, New Hampshire, allow trusts to be directed by persons other than the trustee. This can include a Trust Protector or Special Trustee, or can divide actions amongst trustees. Under the right circumstances, this can be beneficial when it is desirable for the trustee to have supervision, or when different trustees will perform different tasks. It can also be a logistical nightmare if the needs are not well matched to the trust’s provisions.

Karen Johnson will be presenting this seminar on February 23, 2021.

Listening is one of the most important tools you can have as a lawyer, but are you hearing what your clients are telling you? What are your clients really saying they need? Learn how to improve your listening skills and better meet your clients’ needs by truly understanding what they are trying to tell you.

Shani Rea Collymore will be presenting this seminar on February 4, 2021.

Creating an effective Medicaid trust requires not only a deep understanding of trust law, but also of estate and tax planning. You must know how to draft trust terms that will get approved—not always easy when it seems unclear what the state will—and will not—allow. Using the right language and key terms is vital—and more challenging than ever.

Karen Johnson will be co-presenting this seminar on December 8, 2020.

We are proud to announce that Karen Johnson received the 2020 Deborah Thomson award for legislative advocacy from the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Attorney Johnson was also recognized by Boston Magazine as a Super Lawyer in 2020.

Decanting is the act of pouring assets from one trust to another, leaving behind the unwanted terms of the original trust. Decanting is a powerful tool, but should only be done after careful consideration.

Do you have a loved on residing in a nursing home or assisted living residence during the COVID-19 crisis? Are you unsure what you should do to keep your loved one safe?

Do you have a loved on residing in a nursing home or assisted living residence during the COVID-19 crisis? Are you unsure what you should do to keep your loved one safe?

Do you have a loved on residing in a nursing home or assisted living residence during the COVID-19 crisis? Are you unsure what you should do to keep your loved one safe?

We are excited to inform you that yesterday, April 27, 2020, Governor Baker signed Bill S.2645. This Bill entitled, “An Act Providing for Virtual Notarization to Address Challenges Related to COVID-19”, allows for the virtual notarization and witnessing of estate planning documents via video conferencing until the State of Emergency has ended.

As of Wednesday, March 25, 2020, our physical office located in Westford will be closed and our staff will be working remotely due to the Corona Virus and Governor Baker’s “stay at home” order. During this time we will still be meeting with clients virtually via videoconferencing and teleconferencing.