| by Mariah Heppe, General, The Firm
Mariah L. Heppe has joined Estate Preservation Law Offices (EPLO), Worcester, MA, as an attorney. Her practice at EPLO concentrates on estate planning and elder law. Heppe’s estate planning and elder law experience began in Boston, where she clerked for Cohen &...
| by Carol Barton, General
By Carol F. Barton November was established as National Family Caregivers’ Month to honor people who give of themselves to be there for their family, friends, and neighbors in challenging times. According to the Family Caregiving Alliance, 43.5 million caregivers...
| Asset Protection, Estate and Trust Administration, Estate Planning, General, Guardianships and Conservatorships, Probate, Wills
By Carol F. Barton The tragic death of Actor Paul Walker in a high-speed car accident is a reminder that it is never too early to create an estate plan. Walker, who starred in The Fast and Furious movies, had the foresight to create an estate plan when he was only 28...
| Asset Protection, Estate Planning, General, Long Term Care Planning, Special Needs & Disability Planning, Tax Planning for Individuals
Often, after having signed their estate planning documents, clients convey the relief they feel at having finalized their documents. While signing your estate planning documents is undeniably important to the estate planning process, an equally important step of the...
| by Carol Barton, Estate Planning, General
By Carol F. Barton The decision to become an organ donor is not an easy one. People need to weigh their reasons for wanting to help the thousands of patients waiting for life-saving transplants against their fears and misconceptions about donating their organs. Many...
| by Carol Barton, General, Long Term Care Planning
By Carol Barton The U.S. District Court of Vermont, on January 24, 2013, approved a settlement in the case of Jimmo v Sebelius which has led to a significant change in Medicare policy that ensures beneficiaries receive the full benefits to which they are entitled....
| by Carol Barton, General
By Carol Barton When our lives are drawing to a close from serious illness or injury, we, or someone we chose to make decisions for us if we can’t, may have to make difficult health care choices. We know that and yet, according to a California Health Foundation...
| Asset Protection, by Linda Cammuso, Estate Planning, General
By Linda Cammuso In a previous blog, we discussed erroneous preconceived notions that people might have about asset protection planning. We also mentioned that legal vehicles such as trusts and business entities can be effective ways to shelter your exposed assets....
| Estate and Trust Administration, Estate Planning, General
The passage of the Massachusetts Uniform Trust Code (MUTC) in July 2012 marked the second major piece of legislation in Massachusetts this year relating to estates and trusts. (The Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MUPC) was signed into law on March 31, 2012.) The...
| by Carol Barton, General
By Carol Barton One of the most important legal documents that you should have before you need medical care is a health care proxy. Most of us are not eager to think about a future that involves a personal medical catastrophe; consequently, we don’t plan for such an...
| by Linda Cammuso, Estate and Trust Administration, Estate Planning, General, Probate
By Linda T. Cammuso The passing of the new Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code should prompt Massachusetts residents to evaluate whether and how their estate plans may be impacted by the new law. After two decades of debate, the new Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code...
| Estate Planning, General
By: Melissa A. Gleick As you move through different life stages, chances are that your estate planning needs will evolve as well. As your life goals and familial circumstances change, they will need to be incorporated into your estate plan. Estate planning is not a...
| by Linda Cammuso, General
Attorney Linda Cammuso was invited to host a panel at The Worcester Women’s Conference. The conference, sponsored by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, was held in early June. The program provided inspiration to women and also information on how to balance...