Articles
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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…
You Can’t Take it With You
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • December, 2022
- 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…
Dispelling Estate Planning Myths
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • November, 2022
- In the realm of estate planning, the following myths are rampant. You may have heard, or even believe, them yourself. As it is not possible to make proper decisions with incorrect information, it is important to dispel these myths…
Using Trusts to Reduce Massachusetts Estate Taxes for Married Couples
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • October, 2022
- Massachusetts has one of the lowest estate tax thresholds in the United States. If you pass away owning assets worth more than $1,000,000, your estate will likely owe Massachusetts estate tax. To make matters worse, the Massachusetts estate tax is a cliff tax, which means…
Be Smart About Helping Your Grandchildren With College Expenses
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • September, 2022
- As a grandparent, you likely take great pride in the success of your grandchildren. While a college degree can play a large part in that success, the cost of college has continued to increase and can be prohibitive for many…
Estate Planning for Your Pet
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • August, 2022
- Many people view their pets as members of their family. They go to great lengths to ensure their pets’ comfort, and often shower them with gifts of toys and treats. Surely, they would want to ensure that these pets would be well cared for if they were to pass away…
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • July, 2022
- The most cherished, and often the largest, asset in most families is the family home. Typically, protecting that home from nursing home costs is a high priority as most families would choose to protect the home rather than sell the home to pay for nursing home care. Protecting the home may be possible, especially when planning begins early. This article will address one option for protecting your home…
Things to Know When Your Child is Also Your Caregiver
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • June, 2022
- It is very common for a child to provide care to an aging parent in order to allow the parent to continue to live at home. A child is most commonly the caregiver because the parent will not agree to hire professionals to assist with the activities of their daily life…
Veteran’s Benefits: A Primer on Pensions
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • May, 2022
- As our nation’s veterans grow older, they face increased health and financial challenges. Fortunately, their service in our nation’s military may qualify them for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) to help them overcome these challenges. Elderly veterans may be eligible…
Staying at Home – Considerations for Elders and Their Caregivers
- Gina M. Barry, Esq • April, 2022
- Many elders fiercely guard their independence. When additional care becomes necessary for them to stay healthy and safe, most prefer to stay in their own home rather than moving to a retirement community, assisted living facility, or even a nursing….