Legal Blog

Where’s Boston?

A longtime friend of the firm bought a house in Cambridge today. He is from a foreign country and is quite fascinated by the American Colonial style of his new home. The house was built about 200 years ago with the usual additions and renovations.

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This Old House

Over the years I have learned that elder clients are not so much disturbed about their eventual deaths as they are about changes in their lives as they age. I think it’s true about houses too. Just yesterday I sat with two elderly sisters who

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Desperate Real Estate Brokers

I’ll admit publicly to watching the following programs on a somewhat regular basis (normally by TiVo): 24; Prison Break; Heroes; Sopranos; CSI:Miami; CSI: Vegas. I will neither admit or deny regularly watching: Grey’s Anatomy; Ugly Betty; and Lost. I wound never admit to ever watching

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Estate Administration

Probate is the process by which a deceased person’s property, known as the "estate," is passed to his or her heirs and legatees (people named in the will). The entire process, supervised by the probate court, usually takes about a year. However, substantial distributions from

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Duties of an Executor

The responsibilities of an executor (or administrator) can be overwhelming. They may include, but are not limited to the following tasks: Locating the decedent’s will and determining if it is the most recent version Gathering information on all assets and liabilities including associated documents Securing

Continue Reading »

State Probate Laws

Alabama Title 43 Chapter 2 Administration of EstatesTitle 43 Chapter 8 Probate Code Alaska Title 13 Decedents’ Estates, Guardianships, Transfers and TrustsTitle 13 Chapter 16 Probate of Wills and Administration Arizona Title 14 Trusts, Estates and Protective Proceedings Arkansas Title 28 Wills, Estates and Fiduciary

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Trusts

A trust is a legal arrangement through which one person (or an institution, such as a bank or law firm), called a “trustee,” holds legal title to property for another person, called a “beneficiary.” The rules or instructions under which the trustee operates are set

Continue Reading »

Where’s Boston?

A longtime friend of the firm bought a house in Cambridge today. He is from a foreign country and is quite fascinated by the American Colonial style of his new home. The house was built about 200 years ago with the usual additions and renovations.

Read More »

This Old House

Over the years I have learned that elder clients are not so much disturbed about their eventual deaths as they are about changes in their lives as they age. I think it’s true about houses too. Just yesterday I sat with two elderly sisters who

Read More »

New Law Makes Conservation Easements More Attractive

New legislation signed by President Bush in August increases income tax deductions for donors qualified conservation easements. The new law allows donors to deduct up to 50% (formerly 30%) of their adjusted gross income for the lesser of a period of 15 years (formerly six

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Desperate Real Estate Brokers

I’ll admit publicly to watching the following programs on a somewhat regular basis (normally by TiVo): 24; Prison Break; Heroes; Sopranos; CSI:Miami; CSI: Vegas. I will neither admit or deny regularly watching: Grey’s Anatomy; Ugly Betty; and Lost. I wound never admit to ever watching

Read More »

Estate Administration

Probate is the process by which a deceased person’s property, known as the "estate," is passed to his or her heirs and legatees (people named in the will). The entire process, supervised by the probate court, usually takes about a year. However, substantial distributions from

Read More »

Duties of an Executor

The responsibilities of an executor (or administrator) can be overwhelming. They may include, but are not limited to the following tasks: Locating the decedent’s will and determining if it is the most recent version Gathering information on all assets and liabilities including associated documents Securing

Read More »

State Probate Laws

Alabama Title 43 Chapter 2 Administration of EstatesTitle 43 Chapter 8 Probate Code Alaska Title 13 Decedents’ Estates, Guardianships, Transfers and TrustsTitle 13 Chapter 16 Probate of Wills and Administration Arizona Title 14 Trusts, Estates and Protective Proceedings Arkansas Title 28 Wills, Estates and Fiduciary

Read More »

Trusts

A trust is a legal arrangement through which one person (or an institution, such as a bank or law firm), called a “trustee,” holds legal title to property for another person, called a “beneficiary.” The rules or instructions under which the trustee operates are set

Read More »