Boston Area Elder Law Blog

There are a variety of documents that are the foundation of an effective estate plan. An estate plan can be useful and important at any stage of life whether the estate planner is concerned about planning for their children or ensuring their assets are distributed how they wish for them to be distributed.

A comprehensive and effective estate plan can be helpful for both the present and future of the estate planner. An effective overall estate plan that is thorough and carefully thought out can help provide peace of mind for the estate planner and also help prevent potential conflicts family members may have to resolve down the road during an exceptionally difficult time.

The commercials for financial advising companies make it seem so easy. Put some money away each month and 20 to 30 years later you will be able to everything you wished you were able to do while you spent your professional life making a normal life for your family. But there is more to retirement planning. The money you put away and the lifestyle you subscribe to is not only about preparing a nice cushy life for yourself as you grow old. As a matter of fact, retirement planning should include health care planning.

As people grow older, their medical expenses may increase. Even though the average retiree may already have coverage, it may not be sufficient to cover important medical expenses, such as preventative screenings and critical medications. This is why the use of Medicare coverage may be a possibility. This post will provide some basics on Medicare.

The loss of a loved one who is near and dear to your heart will have lasting effects on your life. However, we all pass on at some point, so it's best to plan for that passing to make it smoother on loved ones and others that will be impacted by the death. When a person looks at their life, they may have amassed many assets or responsibilities along the way. An estate plan can help to distribute those assets in a way that one sees fit.

For many, their wish is to leave their assets to family members and other important people in their life. The last thing anyone wants is for loved ones to be fighting over the person's estate or claiming that the instructions left for the executor are not valid or are in some way lacking. If these claims were to arise, a person's estate may have to pass through probate. Probate is a process undesired by many in which the state wants to monitor the process for possible fraud. To do so, there are a series of rules and regulations that must be followed to ensure that all property passes to heirs as intended.

Though the decision may prove difficult, understanding the right time to move into a nursing home proves beneficial for both you and your family caretakers. Nursing home care exhibits high costs, but you do not want the burden of expensive care to fall on your loved ones.

In Massachusetts, your eligibility in the MassHealth program may save you money, so that you can focus your time in paying for only necessary living care. MassHealth works to provide you medical benefits provided by both Massachusetts and federal law. Your comfortable living situation matters greatly in terms of prolonging your health, and you may want to enroll to begin receiving well-deserved benefits.