It is crucial to protect your finances, your family and yourself with a well drafted estate plan. Although it is advised that everyone over the age of 18 have a will that is properly drafted, fewer than one third of Americans actually have an estate plan in place.

The event of your unexpected passing can create a number of different challenges for your loved ones and add to the stress of an already confusing situation. The support of an attorney can be instrumental in helping you figure out what an estate plan even looks like.

Relying on your perceptions of what estate planning is could mean that you could make mistakes that could prove problematic in the future should someone challenge the validity of your will or should it accidentally direct that something else happens other than what you intended.

Minor mistakes can have big ripple effects and implications so it’s important to retain an attorney who has extensive experience in drafting estate plans and one who will keep you up to date about any changes in state or federal laws that should trigger updates in your estate plans.

With so many different things to think about in the wake of a pandemic, it’s also important to consider drafting a power of attorney that authorizes another person to make decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated.

While no one wants to think about the mortality associated with a will or power of attorney, it can give you peace of mind that there is a plan in place if something happens to you.

Whether it’s long term care, incapacity planning, or who will receive your assets once you pass away, all of these issues can be discussed with a Massachusetts estate planning lawyer so that you have peace of mind about your plan.


Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a qualified attorney.

Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP

About Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP

Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP is the CEO and Founding Partner of O'Connell Law, an estate planning and elder law firm serving clients across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. She is one of a select group of attorneys in Massachusetts certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). Tiffany focuses her practice on estate planning, trust and probate administration, Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, Alzheimer's planning, charitable planning, and retirement and wealth strategies. She has been helping families plan for their futures since opening her practice in 2010.

Credentials: JD, LLM, CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney — National Elder Law Foundation), AEP (Accredited Estate Planner)

Licensed in: Massachusetts

Areas of Practice: Estate Planning, Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Probate & Trust Administration, Alzheimer's Planning, Asset Protection

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