Top Scituate, MA Estate Planning & Probate Lawyers

Your home, savings, and family relationships represent a lifetime of effort. A thoughtful estate plan makes sure those things are protected and handled the way you want, even if you can no longer speak for yourself. At Logan & Logan LLP, our estate planning attorneys work with Scituate residents at every stage of life, from young families buying their first home to retirees thinking about the legacy they’ll leave behind.

Many Scituate families own property that has grown significantly in value over the years, including waterfront homes, seasonal properties, and houses that have been in the family for generations. Without a plan in place, these assets may have to pass through probate court, which can be slow, public, and costly. With the right planning, you can often keep your affairs private, reduce delays, and spare your loved ones unnecessary stress.

What a Massachusetts Estate Plan Can Include

Every plan we create is tailored to your goals, but most of our clients’ plans include some combination of the following:

• Last will and testament: States how your property should be distributed and names a personal representative to manage your estate.
• Revocable living trust: Lets assets pass to your beneficiaries outside of probate, keeping the process faster and more private.
• Irrevocable trusts: Can help with asset protection, long-term care planning, and tax planning in the right circumstances.
• Durable power of attorney: Authorizes someone you trust to handle your financial and legal matters if you become unable to.
• Health care proxy and HIPAA authorization: Names a person to make medical decisions for you and gives them access to your health information.
• Guardianship nominations: Lets parents name who would care for their minor children.
• Beneficiary designation review: Makes sure retirement accounts and life insurance policies line up with the rest of your plan.

Planning for the Massachusetts Estate Tax

Massachusetts is one of the few states with its own estate tax, and the threshold is much lower than the federal exemption. Once you add up a home, retirement accounts, and life insurance, many Scituate households come closer to that threshold than they expect. Our attorneys can review your assets and explain strategies, such as properly structured trusts, that may help reduce the tax burden on your heirs.

Our Three-Step Estate Planning Process

We keep estate planning straightforward so you always know what comes next. Learn more about our 3-step estate planning process, or see the overview below:

1. Complimentary consultation: We get to know you, your family, and your goals so we understand the full picture.
2. Custom proposal and drafting: We recommend the right tools for your situation and prepare documents tailored to your wishes.
3. Review and signing: We walk through every document with you, answer your questions, and finalize your plan.

When to Update Your Estate Plan

An estate plan isn’t a one-time task. We recommend reviewing your plan after major life events, including marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, a move, the purchase or sale of property, a significant inheritance, or the death of a named beneficiary or trustee. Even without a major change, a review every few years helps keep your plan current with your family’s needs and with Massachusetts law.