A Will, also known as a Last Will and Testament, is used to direct how your assets are distributed at the time of your death. It allows you to:
Do You Need A Will?
- express how you want your assets to be divided and who will inherit them after your death;
- choose a guardian to take care of your minor children; and
- name a personal representative to oversee the probate of your estate.
Why a Will May Not Be Enough
Although a necessary starting point, a Will alone may not be enough to meet your needs. Depending on your personal goals and objectives regarding estate planning, a Will may fall short based on the following considerations. A Will:
- does not go into effect in the case of incapacity; only at your death
- does not avoid Probate
- only allows for lump-sum/ outright distributions to beneficiaries.
- offers no asset protection
- offers no estate tax planning.
If your estate planning goals include any of the above, then a Trust plan is better suited for you and your family.
Check out or Estate Planning Tools and Resources, including our Massachusetts Estate Tax Calculator.
Do You Need A Trust?
Should a Will alone fall short of your estate planning goals, a Living Trust, is an ideal planning option. A Living Trust enables the coordinated distribution of all of your assets, while maintaining the greatest degree of asset control and flexibility – both during your lifetime and after death.
There are many important benefits of Trusts beyond federal and MA estate tax considerations such as:
- Avoiding probate and ensuring a smooth transition
- Protecting assets
- Planning for incapacity or disability (without Court oversight)
- Controlling distributions to beneficiaries (give what you have…to whom you want, the way you want, when you want)
- Maintaining 100% privacy
Socius’ Will-based Plans
A Will is a necessary starting point in every estate plan. At the Socius Law Firm, we offer individuals and families a Will-based plan that is designed for people who do not have assets that would be required to go through Probate, but want to ensure that:
- their minor children are protected and cared for no matter what;
- their health care wishes become directives; and
- their loved ones can access their assets using a durable power of attorney should they become incapacitated
See what is included if you choose a Will-based Family plan.
Socius’ Trust-based Plans
One of the most common misperceptions regarding Trusts is that they are only for the super wealthy who have large taxable estates. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Socius’ Trust-based plans are designed for people who have assets that would require probate, and thus want the assurance that assets will be transferred to heirs with the most ease and convenience possible without probate court involvement. Individuals and families that choose a Trust-based Plan may also opt to protect beneficiary’s inheritance from lawsuits or spouses (i.e., asset protection) and reduce and/or eliminate estate taxes (i.e., estate tax planning).
See more on why a Trust may be best for you.
See what’s included in our Trust-based Plans.
How Much Does a Will Cost?
Socius’ Will-based plans start at a flat-fee of $1,000. See our plan options.
How Much Does a Trust-based Plan Cost?
Trust plans with Socius begin at a flat-fee of $3,500 and can be created as an individual or couple and as outright gifts or sub-trusts. Get more detail on our Trust-based plans.
Still uncertain regarding which estate planning tool may be best for you and your family? See how they stack up here.
Satisfied Client Stories
As a professional and business owner I expect excellent performance and results from other professionals. I can say without hesitation that Todd Rosenfield and the Socius Law Firm have met and exceeded those expectations. Todd’s experience as a Estate Planning and Business Attorney make him exceptionally qualified to address a wide variety of issues. As a husband and father, as well as a business owner, I have peace of mind and sleep well at night knowing that Todd has me covered. I have utilized Todd’s services for over 10 years in a variety of legal and trust matters.
Mike L., Southborough, MA
“I have depended on Todd Rosenfield to provide exceptional advice and counsel for both my personal estate planning and business needs for over 15 years. He has always taken care of every detail to ensure my issues are resolved promptly and thoroughly. I can recommend Todd without hesitation as an expert attorney.”
by George D., President, Delaney Properties Inc., Cambridge, MA
“I brought my parents to Socius for an estate planning consultation. They were a bit nervous and unsure if they needed a revocable living trust. Attorney Rosenfield took the time to explain the options and was very patient. We hired him on the spot.”
by Bill P., Southborough, MA
“We liked Attorney Rosenfield for his professionalism, knowledge and willingness to share it, and his good nature. Todd’s approach to navigating the estate planning design process helped us understand legal concepts that otherwise might have been confusing or made us feel uncertain. We were unconditionally satisfied every step of the way, including the pace of events leading to our completed Estate Plan.”
by Nick & Patty N., Hopkinton, MA
We had Mr. Rosenfield help us with the adoption of my daughter by my husband. Mr. Rosenfield is both professional and very easy going and made adoption day go very smoothly for us. Knowing that I work in Boston and live 40 miles away, he was mindful of my work and commuting schedule and was very accommodating to that. Adoption day was stress free and he took care of everything and made it a very joyous event. He even emailed us pictures of our special day! Highly recommend Mr. Rosenfield and will be looking to him for additional services in the future with family estate planning.
Doris P., Northborough, MA
We used Todd for our family Estate Planning. He created our Revocable Trust based estate plan and answered all of our questions. Results were a quality product! Highly Recommend!
John R., Grafton, MA
“Todd was my primary council for three years when I was CEO of a Medical Device precision component manufacturer in Massachusetts. Todd was very competent and reliable as a lawyer and quickly established himself as a trusted advisor to senior management on a wide variety of issues and opportunities. I would work with Todd again without hesitation and highly recommend him.”
Jay C., President & CEO, MicroGroup, Inc., Medway, MA
After having our first baby, my wife and I decided that we needed an estate plan to ensure our daughter was taken care of in case something happened to both of us. We were recommended to Todd and the Socius Law Firm by a coworker. I can’t give enough praise to Todd for how easy and painless he made this process.
Ken S., Westborough, MA
“Todd is one of the most knowledgeable attorneys and is unbelievably adept at handling a wide range of legal issues that are applicable to small to medium-sized businesses. At the same time, he is one of the most caring and trustworthy individuals I’ve worked with, always seeking to understand his clients’ goals and recommending the best actions to achieve those goals.”
John L., President, Alpha Youth Sports, Southborough, MA
Recently we decided it was time to update our estate plan. We spent a good amount of time researching the right attorney given our circumstances and selected Todd from a list of recommended estate planning attorneys. The results were outstanding. He was very detailed in his analysis of our needs, goals and objectives. As he prepared our documents, he communicated his thoughts and made recommendations that made a lot of sense. We could not be more pleased with the results.
Glenn G., Shrewsbury, MA
When my father passed away, it was a very upsetting and confusing time. Thankfully, he had the foresight to consult with Todd Rosenfield and introduced us to his law firm. The process of settling the estate and trust went smoothly and Todd took care of every detail. We are very thankful.
Harvey C., Framingham, MA
“As a new business owner, Todd Rosenfield was very helpful assisting us with our legal needs. He was extremely responsive and detailed in working with us to navigate client contracts. His expertise in business law is exceptional.”
Elizabeth C., President, BestExec, Grafton, MA
I met with Todd to get my estate planning done for my family. Todd took the time to explain everything to me and helped me understand what was right for our needs. We decided to go with him and his firm cause of how professional, thoughtful and caring he was! It was a very smooth process. We were leaving our young children and wanted to make sure our estate plan was in place before traveling out of the country. We were comforted knowing it was all in place and settled for our kids. I highly recommend Todd and encourage you all to get your estate planning done!
Jeff R., Marlborough, MA
“Todd Rosenfield has impeccable character and has represented me for the last 15 years. Socius is an extremely knowledgeable business law and estate planning law firm and I would highly recommend Socius’ legal services.”
Eric H., Brookes + Hill Custom Buiders, Inc., Lexington, MA
We had been putting it off estate planning for years. After the birth of our son, my husband and I decided it was time to get our house in order. We hired Todd and could not be more pleased with the results. Todd was terrific to work with… smart, professional and insightful. The process was painless, and he guided us along each step of the way. I really appreciated him taking the time to explain everything to us and answer all of our questions. I highly recommend Todd to anyone looking to create or update their estate plan. Thank you Todd!
Hannah S., Westborough, MA
I am so very grateful that I was referred to the Socius Law Firm. Where to start? Todd made the whole process painless. He was very patient and professional. Todd took the time needed to explain any pertinent legal concepts which allowed us to make informed decisions regarding all of the issues for our specific estate planning needs. The presentation of the final product was the icing on the cake. Our estate planning documents came in a very organized portfolio as well as digital copies on a thumb drive. Thank you so much!
John P., Shrewsbury, MA
“We work with Socius for their trustworthiness, reliability, expertise and professionalism. We felt in good hands from the start.”
Simone L., President, Pecorino Cheese Shop, Grafton, MA
How Much Does It Cost?
We offer four levels of comprehensive estate planning – each highly customized to meet your unique family situation. Plan fees are dependent upon your personal values, goals and objectives.
(Level 1)
Family Plan
- For the family who wants to take care of basic estate planning needs and is not concerned about avoiding probate or maintaining privacy. You’ll gain peace of mind knowing we are here to help you navigate the system during your lifetime and help your family after your passing.
(Level 2)
Trust Plan
- For the family who wants to avoid probate and gain total assurance and peace of mind knowing that in the event of their death or incapacity, all assets will be transferred to heirs with the most ease and convenience possible in the privacy of our office.
(Level 3)
Wealth Plan
- For the family who wants the total assurance and peace of mind of the "Trust Plan" as well as the added comfort of knowing that all assets transfers are taken care of by our office. We do all “funding” for you.
(Level 4)
Legacy Plan
- For the family who needs more than the foundational planning of the first three levels. Clients choosing the Legacy Plan may have advanced planning needs involving complicated estate tax or asset protection issues.
Call Us Today
Call Us To Discuss Your Estate Planning Needs.
508.870.5759