By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com Have you checked your beneficiary designations for your retirement accounts or life insurance policies recently? If not, you may find that your designated beneficiary is not who or what you think it should be, especially if you have had a major life event, such as …
Last Will & Testament
Personal Directives / Living Wills
By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com Though many may prefer to avoid the thought, we are all mindful of the importance of expressing our end-of-life wishes to our families and loved ones when our time comes. A personal directive (often called a living will) is a written expression of your wishes …
Do Your Kids Know Your Plans? Talk to Them Today
By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com Most families never talk about what their wishes may be when they become incapacitated or when they die. After all, no one likes to talk about their own mortality, especially with their children (even if they are adults themselves). However, an open dialogue is the …
Why You Need More Than a Will
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.” Nearly right away, I educate this prospective client that a simple will is not enough to adequately provide for what happens should you become incapacitated or when …
Where to Keep Your Estate Planning Document
By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com You have planned ahead and have decided how you want your affairs to be handled upon your passing. You have signed all of your Foundational Estate Planning documents: A Last Will and Testament, a Durable Power of Attorney, a Personal Directive (sometimes called a living …
Is Your Child Disabled? If so, an Inheritance from You Could Cost Them their Benefits
By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com Many times, a person on disability relies on certain governmental benefit programs such as Medicaid (known as MassHealth in Massachusetts) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for support and medical insurance. They may receive SNAP benefits (commonly known as food stamps), PACE (commonly known as fuel …
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Avoiding Probate
By: Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. Walecka Law, P.C. 774-203-9003 Brandon@WaleckaLaw.com When an individual dies owning property solely in his or her name, then a formal procedure (“probate”) is usually needed to determine to whom the property should pass. If there is a valid will, the property will pass according to its terms. If there is …
The Risks with Unequal Inheritances
Written by Brandon C. Walecka, Esq. In order to avoid conflict, many parents and/or grandparents may decide to leave their children the same inheritance, although equal may not always be equitable. With the pandemic bringing the drafting and execution of more Wills, this issue is coming up more frequently. One stark example of this situation …