Probate Archives - The Law Offices of Kimberly Butler Rainen

avoid probate business assets Massachusetts

How Do I Avoid Probate for My Business Assets in Massachusetts?

Estate Planning, Probate / Kimberly Rainen

To avoid probate for business assets in Massachusetts, you need to change who owns the business interest before you die. The three tools that work are transferring your LLC membership interest or corporate shares into a revocable living trust, building a transfer provision into your operating agreement or shareholder agreement, and funding a buy-sell agreement

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The Family Loan Nobody Wrote Down: What Happens to It During Probate in Merrimack Valley

Estate Planning, Probate / LM2 Team

Somewhere in almost every family, there is a check that changed things. Fifty thousand dollars toward a son’s first house. Help with a daughter’s business. At the time, nobody wrote anything down, because writing it down felt cold. But for families going through probate in Merrimack Valley, that unwritten money often becomes the single ugliest

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Who Pays the Mortgage and Bills While an Estate Is Being Settled in Massachusetts?

Blog, Estate Planning, Probate / LM2 Team

When someone passes away, their bills do not pause. The mortgage still comes due, the electricity stays on, and the insurance premium arrives on schedule. Yet the person who always paid those bills is gone, and the accounts that would cover them may be temporarily out of reach. Families ask us about this gap all

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Can My Out-of-State Child Serve as My Executor or Power of Attorney? What Massachusetts Families Should Know

Blog, Estate Planning, Probate / LM2 Team

Families are more spread out than ever, and one question comes up in our Essex County office all the time: My son or daughter lives across the country, so can they still handle things for me? The short answer is usually yes. The longer answer is that distance changes the job, and a few adjustments

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Does a Will Avoid Probate? Understanding One of the Most Common Estate Planning Myths in the Merrimack Valley

Blog, Estate Planning, Probate, Trusts / LM2 Team

If you have a will, you may feel like your family is all set, and that is a completely reasonable thing to believe. Most people assume a will keeps their loved ones out of court. We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but a will is actually the document that sends an estate

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What Is Muniment of Title in Massachusetts Probate?

Probate / Kimberly Rainen

If you have been researching ways to simplify the probate process, you may have come across the term “muniment of title.” It is a legitimate legal tool that can streamline estate administration in certain states. But before you get your hopes up, there is something important you need to know: a muniment of title is

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What Happens to an Estate When There’s No Will or Trust in Andover?

Probate / Kimberly Rainen

When someone dies without a will or trust in Massachusetts, they have not opted out of estate planning. They have just let the state do it for them. And the state’s plan almost certainly does not match what they would have chosen. Dying without a will is called dying “intestate.” It happens to roughly 6

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Does Life Insurance Go Through Probate?

Probate / Kimberly Rainen

Most people buy life insurance to make sure their family has money when they need it most. So it is understandable that one of the most common questions we hear is whether life insurance has to go through probate before beneficiaries can access it. The short answer: usually, no. But there are situations where life

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Can I List My Loved One’s Property Right Away After Their Passing? What Andover Probate Lawyers Want You to Know

Estate Planning, Probate / LM2 Team

After losing a loved one, families often face immediate financial pressures that make selling the deceased person’s home feel urgent. Whether it’s covering final expenses, paying off debts, or simply maintaining an empty house, the desire to list the property quickly is understandable. However, the answer to whether you can sell right away isn’t straightforward,

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Navigating the Loss of a Loved One During the Holidays: Practical Guidance from an Andover Estate Lawyer

Probate / LM2 Team

The holiday season often brings families together in celebration, but it can also be a time when we unexpectedly lose those we love. Research shows that more people pass away between Christmas and New Year’s than during any other time of year. If you’re facing the heartbreaking task of handling estate matters while grieving during

Navigating the Loss of a Loved One During the Holidays: Practical Guidance from an Andover Estate Lawyer Read More »

Probate

How Do I Avoid Probate for My Business Assets in Massachusetts?

The Family Loan Nobody Wrote Down: What Happens to It During Probate in Merrimack Valley

Who Pays the Mortgage and Bills While an Estate Is Being Settled in Massachusetts?

Can My Out-of-State Child Serve as My Executor or Power of Attorney? What Massachusetts Families Should Know

Does a Will Avoid Probate? Understanding One of the Most Common Estate Planning Myths in the Merrimack Valley

What Is Muniment of Title in Massachusetts Probate?

What Happens to an Estate When There’s No Will or Trust in Andover?

Does Life Insurance Go Through Probate?

Can I List My Loved One’s Property Right Away After Their Passing? What Andover Probate Lawyers Want You to Know

Navigating the Loss of a Loved One During the Holidays: Practical Guidance from an Andover Estate Lawyer

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