Thursday 18 February 2016

With Proper Estate Planning Massachusetts Residents Can Die Peacefully

By Karen Turner


For most people it is difficult to contemplate death, especially their own. Unfortunately, however, everybody will die and the responsible thing to do is to plan for that event. Almost everyone leaves behind possessions, assets and money and it is important to make sure that these belongings will be distributed to those that the deceased intended to have them. With proper estate planning Massachusetts and Dedham MA citizens can make sure that their affairs will be in order when they finally die.

A lot of people pass away without a valid last will or testament or with a will hopelessly out of date. Some people feel that their few possessions do not justify the trouble of drawing up a will and many others simply never review their wills when their circumstances change. This can cause endless troubles for loved ones left behind and the distribution of the assets of the deceased will be decided by the court.

Young people should have a plan from the very moment they start earning and accumulating assets. The best course if action is to ask a professional for help. Many lawyers and financial advisers specialize in this field. A professional can make sure that the wishes of their client are honoured, that probate is finalized quickly and efficiently and that costs are kept to the minimum.

Most people never realize that they also need to plan for circumstances where they are not dead, but unable to make decisions. They may become severely disabled, contract dread diseases that render them unable to make rational decisions or, in extreme cases, be declared to be legally incompetent. If such circumstances are foreseen and planned for, the wishes of the principal will still be honoured.

No responsible person will want their loved ones to suffer after their deaths. A proper plan will therefore make provision for the care of loved ones, the payment of debts and the management of assets until probate is completed. Many individuals set up trust funds intended to bridge the gap between death and the end of probate and they appoint reliable trustees to look after the needs of the loved ones left behind.

Some people use their last wills and testaments to settle old scores or to punish relatives. This should never be the purpose of a will and such documents are often contested in court. Of course, if a loved one is known to be irresponsible with money or that he can reasonably be expected to waste the inheritance, measures can be put in place to prevent abuse.

One of the main reasons why wills are contested in court is that far too many people do not discuss their last wishes and the content of their wills with their loved ones. It is important that all the main clauses of a will is know to those that will be affected by them. If there are objections then they can be managed and even subjected to legal tests while the principal is still alive.

Death will come to everyone. Responsible people will make sure that their deaths do not create hardship, strife and legal problems for the loved ones they left behind. This require a professional plan and a valid and thorough last will and testament.




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