2023 Articles
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Medicaid Myths
- Hyman Darling, Esq • December, 2023
- It seems like every day a client tells me that they are going to protect their assets from long-term care expenses by making a gift of $10,000.00 to their children. If this writer got paid every time a client misspoke about this rule, he quite possibly could be retired…
You Can’t Take It With You
- Gina Barry, Esq • December, 2023
- As we come to the holiday season, charitable giving comes to the fore. Do you donate money to charity each year? Perhaps you donate to an organization dedicated to finding a cure for an awful disease. Perhaps you choose to benefit organizations that support and encourage positive growth in our youth…
Estate Tax Update
- Gina Barry, Esq • November, 2023
- When a Massachusetts resident passes away, every asset that they own is subject to estate tax. Estate tax is imposed by both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (state estate tax) and the United States government (federal estate tax). While this may seem to create a fairly large burden, both the state and federal estate tax systems provide a credit that allows the deceased individual to pass a certain amount of assets without paying any estate tax…
Avoiding Caregiver Stress
- Gina Barry, Esq • October, 2023
- “I’m so stressed out!” Certainly, all of us have made this proclamation. Take a moment now to think of how you felt at that time, and you will get a glimpse into the daily lives of our nation’s family caregivers. A caregiver is anyone who helps another person in need with daily tasks, such as bathing, cooking, eating, taking medications, dressing, using the bathroom, shopping, and house cleaning…
Planning for Long-Term Care
- Gina Barry, Esq • September, 2023
- Long-term care costs can deplete your assets at an alarming rate. Many people will enter a nursing home during their lifetime where they will incur the average monthly cost of $13,000 for an average stay of 2.5 years…
Estate Planning Concerns for Women
- Gina Barry, Esq • August, 2023
- When it comes to financial independence and estate planning, women face a unique set of challenges. Statistically, a married woman is most likely going to outlive her husband. In 2022, the average age of a widow was 59 years old…
Roadmap for Recording- New Requirements for Businesses Under the Corporate Transparency Act
- Jennifer Sharrow, Esq • August, 2023
- Businesses get ready, the federal government is implementing new reporting requirements that will bring even the smallest businesses under the purview of the U.S. Department of Treasury. All entities registered with a Secretary of State are now required to make mandatory reports which require specific and detailed information…
Remote Online Notarization – A Sea Change for a Longstanding Legal Requirement
- Sarah Federation, Esq • Jeffrey Fialky, Esq July, 2023
- Most individuals have at some point had special documents executed in the presence of a notary public- perhaps in connection with estate planning, banking, or the purchase or sale of real estate. Massachusetts, like many other states throughout the Country, has a very specific and particular set of statutory requirements for notaries public compliance…
Special Needs Require Special Planning
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • July, 2023
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States today, 61 million adults are considered disabled. Their disability may entitle them to receive various benefits that are provided by the federal and state government. Some of these benefits, such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), food stamps (“SNAP”), housing, or fuel assistance, may only be available to the disabled person if they meet eligibility requirements that require the disabled person to have income or assets less than a certain amount…
Establish an Estate Plan Before Your Trip
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • June, 2023
- Summer is nearly here, and many are heading off for a fun, restful vacation. Plans are being made to head to the shore to enjoy the weather, and many are also making plans to visit family or friends. When planning to travel, it is common to experience nervousness…
Ensuring Your End of Life Wishes Are Honored
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • May, 2023
- No one likes to think about what might happen if they were in a serious accident or contracted an illness that left them unable to speak and make their wishes known. Unfortunately, such situations occur every day…
Estate Planning Considerations for Men
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • April, 2023
- As women continue to make strides in business and politics, traditional gender roles are changing; however, some things have not changed. Statistics show that it is typically a male who delays estate planning, primarily due to silly superstitions, procrastination, or a stubborn resistance…
Good Grief
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • March, 2023
- Imagine if you were to pass away today. Your loved ones would be devastated, but would, nonetheless, be called upon to tend to your final affairs – arranging your funeral, managing your final debts, and possibly even having to probate your estate…
Blended Families
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • February, 2023
- Blended families, which are families that include a couple and their children born of their current and all previous relationships, have become increasingly more common. They currently outnumber non-blended families, which are families that include a couple and the children born of the couple only…
‘Tis the Season…to Review Your Estate Plan
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • January, 2023
- Happy New Year! It’s time to make your New Year’s resolutions. Reviewing your estate plan is a simple resolution to keep that ensures your estate plan remains current and consistent with your wishes…