By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com Going to the hospital for a medical procedure can be stressful, and, at times, confusing. Sometimes during the intake process, you may be asked if you have a Health Care Proxy (HCP) in place. If you do not have an HCP, or are unsure, they …
Estate Planning & Trusts
Estate Planning This Holiday Season
By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com The holiday season is a busy time for many of us. But we are hoping that it’s a good kind of busy – the type of busy that allows you to spend more time with your family and less time at work. We know that …
Forbes Article: IRS Announces Estate And Gift Tax Exemption Amounts For 2023
By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com Each year, inflation impacts the amounts exempt from federal estate and gift taxes. Exemption amounts for 2023 are out now. Read more here.
Forbes Article: IRS Announces Estate And Gift Tax Exemption Amounts For 2023Read More
An Estate Planning Warning For Married Massachusetts Residents Who Are Not US Citizens
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
Do Not Leave Healthcare Decisions to Chance
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 …
Have You Notified Your Homeowners Insurance Company About Your Irrevocable Trust?
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
What is a Declaration of Homestead Exemption?
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 …
When the Trustee and Beneficiaries are Siblings
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 …