Everyone have an estate. Whether you have $1 million or $10,000, you need a written plan to keep you in control and to protect yourself and those you love. If you don’t have an estate plan, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a plan for you…and you might not like it very much.
Everyone Has An Estate
Do you know what would happen legally to you, your loved ones, and your assets if something unexpected were to happen to you?
If you don’t know, then the first step is to find out exactly what would happen, legally and financially, so that you can decide what you would want to happen differently and if you want to change the plan the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has for your family.
To do this at the Socius Law Firm, we conduct an Initial Planning Meeting with you. During our meeting, which lasts a couple of hours, you will teach us about your family your family and personal circumstances and discuss your concerns, fears, goals, and objectives. Then we will teach you about the law and your planning options, so you can make informed decisions.
Before your Initial Planning Meeting, you will complete an Estate Planning Worksheet, which is designed to help you organize your family and financial information and help you think about your goals and objectives when it comes to planning for the well-being and care of your loved ones.
We will help you to choose the estate planning option that will give you peace of mind knowing that your family would be taken care of in the way you want if something happened to you.
The foundation of your estate plan will often include a Revocable Living Trust, which is created by transferring your property into a Trust, for your benefit, during your lifetime. One of the benefits of a Revocable Living Trust is, when done correctly and maintained over time, your estate plan should help your family to avoid the expense and time, of the process of Probate, and minimize or eliminate estate taxes.
What would happen to your children?
Without proper planning, your child could be temporarily placed into the care of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The Probate Court will determine who will raise your child, even if it is the last person you would ever want. The probate court will also appoint a conservator to manage your child’s inheritance (along with its related costs and expenses) until the age of 18.
Then, at age 18, when most parents plan for their children to attend college, your child’s inheritance will be distributed outright to him or her without any guidance or protection. Think about that for a minute – would you want your child to unrestricted access to sizeable inheritance at the age of 18? Most parents would say absolutely not!
You Need A Plan If…
-     You want your children raised according to your wishes if something happens to you and your spouse.
-     You want to control how your assets are managed, used and passed when you die.
-     You want complete control of your assets while you are alive and well.
-    You want to keep your financial affairs and information about your family private.
-     You want to control how you and your loved ones are cared for in the event of incapacity.
-    You want children from a prior marriage to get a fair distribution and prevent unintentional disinheritance.
-     You want to ensure that your pets are well-cared for should something happen to you.
-     You want heirs to be able to settle your estate quickly and inexpensively with minimal court intrusion.
-     You want to minimize or eliminate family squabbling over your estate.
-     You would like to eliminate or significanty reduce estate, income or gift taxes.
-     You are looking to protect assets from creditors, predators, lawsuits and other threats.
-     You want to leave a legacy, pass on your work ethic or personal values to your loved ones.
-    You need to plan for a special needs child to ensure they continue to qualify for government benefits.
-     You are looking to plan for a family business to avoid family conflict between children.
With 20 Years of Experience… We Do Things Differently
Unlike the “transactional” or “one-size-fits-all” approach to estate planning, the Socius Law Firm is committed to forging lawyer-for-life relationships with our clients.
What We Do
At the Socius Law Firm, estate planning is not done for you, it is done with you. We help individuals and families identify their concerns and planning objectives and work together to create a plan that is tailored to meet their unique family situation, assets and personal values, goals and objectives.
Satisfied Client Stories
How Much Does It Cost?
We offer four levels of planning – each highly customized to meet your unique family situation, assets and personal values, goals and objectives. Plan fees range from a low of $1,000 to a high of $8,500 for an extensive estate plan.
(Level 1)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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.
Schedule a Consultation
We offer free estate planning consultations. Take the first step in ensuring peace of mind for you and your loved ones today.
Call Us Today
Call us to discuss your estate planning needs.
508.870.5759