Estate Planning

Boston Estate Planning Law Firm

Nobody likes to think about end-of-life issues. Leaving your surviving spouse and children with a legal mess to clean up doesn't make the grieving any easier. The lawyers of Machado & Carden offer estate planning legal instruments that make planning ahead an easy and affordable process. By visiting with an elder law attorney while you are healthy and aware, you can help your family avoid potential probate court expenses, delays, and the uncertainties of tough decisions when you have passed away or become incapacitated.

Comprehensive Estate Plans Designed to Meet Your Unique Needs

The lawyers of Machado & Carden are members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. They know that discussing your last will and testament might not be the easiest conversation you can have. They also know that it will be one of the most important things you can do for your family.

A proper estate plan ensures that your final wishes are honored and your assets pass to your intended heirs and beneficiaries. The firm can help you create a comprehensive legal estate plan designed to carry out your wishes about who will receive your property and assets after your death. After considering your unique personal and financial circumstances and your wishes, our attorneys can advise you on how to best ensure your assets are transferred to the friends or family you want to have them - whether that involves a will, a trust, putting property in joint tenancy or other method. We can also explore methods of avoiding probate, when appropriate.

We also provide legal advice to help families preserve and protect hard-earned assets in the event a family member requires long-term care or nursing home care in the future. In addition to Medicaid planning, our attorneys can counsel clients on other asset protection strategies. For higher net worth clients, our attorneys work to minimize or, in some cases, eliminate a likely inheritance or estate tax upon death.

Health Care Proxies / Medical Powers of Attorney

Machado & Carden provides the legal documents that allow you to put your final healthcare and financial wishes in writing. A healthcare proxy, sometimes called a medical power of attorney, gives your spouse, or other designated agent, the legal authority to make healthcare decisions if you cannot do so yourself.

Advance Healthcare Directives / Living Wills

Also, many clients choose to sign advance healthcare directives that express their medical treatment wishes in the event of a terminal illness. Often known as a "living will", this language provides your family with clear instructions about whether "heroic" or "futile" medical treatment is appropriate if your death is imminent. With a living will in place, your family will not face the uncertainty of making decisions about your medical care.

Durable Powers of Attorney

Durable powers of attorney are a critical piece of any estate plan. This document will enable your appointed agent to make financial decisions of your behalf should you ever become incapacitated. Machado & Carden can advise you on how to choose an agent and how best to draft the durable power of attorney to ensure that your assets are properly managed.

Contact our estate planning attorneys to schedule a consultation about your estate planning needs. It's not too late to start making plans to preserve your estate for your family. It never is.