Top Five Methods of Charitable Giving
A colleague and I have recently devoted some time to developing a new facet of estate planning that we call “Zero Tax Planning.” The idea is simple. First, we use...
Does Having A Will Avoid Probate?
Does Having A Will Avoid Probate? There is a common misconception that having a valid will allows a decedent to avoid probate. This is completely false. When someone dies without...
Why I Like Our Current Estate Tax System
Warning: This article is very long. It feels weird to write a post in favor of taxes, but hear me out. After my last post about ways to avoid the...
The Three Easiest Ways to Avoid The Massachusetts Estate Tax
If you are a resident of Massachusetts, and you die with more than $1 million in your “taxable estate,” then you owe a Massachusetts estate tax. The tax rate is...
How to Find an Estate Planning Attorney in Massachusetts
For many people, the prospect of discussing their sensitive family and financial scenarios, in the context of their eventual death, is intimidating. Even so, estate planning is an important undertaking...
What Aaron Hernandez Should Do.
Aaron Hernandez needs some serious legal help, but not from a criminal lawyer, from an estate planner. It’s become increasingly clear that Hernandez is guilty of at least one murder,...
Asset Protection: LLCs vs. Irrevocable Trusts
We live in an economically volatile and litigious society. An unexpected lawsuit, or decline in business, can put people’s life savings at risk. Therefore, asset protection planning is of the...
Choosing Fiduciaries: Two Schools of Thought
By its very nature, much of the administration of an estate plan takes place upon the creator’s death or incapacity. For that reason, selecting the proper persons to serve as...
Law Office of David E. Peterson Major Website Redesign Launched
I’m proud to announce that I’ve just launched a major redesign of the official website of the Law Office of David E. Peterson. The website is the product of countless...
What Is A Medicaid Trust?
If you listen to talk radio, then there’s a good chance that you’ve heard an advertisement from a law firm preaching the benefits of Medicaid Trusts. They are a great...