By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com Married couples in Massachusetts can take advantage of unlimited gifting between spouses. This is an effective and useful strategy that makes planning to minimize estate taxes relatively straightforward in most situations. What if one spouse is a non-citizen, however? The estate tax rules are different. …
An Estate Planning Warning For Married Massachusetts Residents Who Are Not US CitizensRead More
By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com You likely have your own ideas on what should happen if you became incapacitated. However, your loved ones could have other ideas. Most people think about finances, wills, guardians for dependents, and who inherits, when the issue of their inevitable death arises. But in the …
By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com Congratulations, you have taken the important step of creating an irrevocable trust to protect your real estate property should you need long-term care. However, you may have missed some important follow-up steps. Did you let your insurance company know of the change in the deed? …
Have You Notified Your Homeowners Insurance Company About Your Irrevocable Trust?Read More
By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com If you own your home, Massachusetts homestead law may protect your home against claims of many creditors. The homestead law protects your home if: You live in the house or plan to live in the house You use it or plan to use it as …
Dartmouth, MA – The elder law and estate planning law firm, Walecka Law, P.C., is pleased to announce that Brandon Walecka, Esq., LL.M. has been named Adjunct Professor at the University of Massachusetts School of Law. In that capacity, Atty. Walecka will teach “Elder Law: Planning for Incapacity & Death” during the fall 2022 semester. …
PRESS RELEASE: Attorney Brandon Walecka named Adjunct Professor at UMass LawRead More
By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com We see this scenario often: A parent passes away and one of the decedent’s children, a beneficiary of the trust, takes over because they were named trustee of the parent’s trust. Other siblings are also beneficiaries. Since no one in the family is familiar with …
By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com I often hear from prospective clients who say, “I’m calling because I need to create a simple Will.” My experience reveals that a simple will is not enough to adequately provide for what happens should you become incapacitated or when you pass away, but getting …
By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com You did the right thing, you established an estate plan consisting of the five foundational documents, including a durable power of attorney, health care proxy, HIPAA release, personal directive, and last will and testament. In particular, a power of attorney is a powerful document that …
Can a Power of Attorney Manage Your Social Security Benefits?Read More
