I went to an antique appraisal event over the weekend. The fees went to charity, so I figured it would be a fun way to find out some more information about some family “heirlooms.” During the rather long wait, people were talking to each other and sharing information about their treasures. It got me thinking [...]
Estate planning, elder law, special needs, probate, guardianship. Leanna Hamill, Hingham
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Leanna Hamill, Attorney at Law, P.C. provides estate planning and related legal services to clients of all ages, with a focus on the needs of older individuals and their families.
Category Archives: Elder Law
What They Don’t Teach In Law School
I learned a lot in law school – things I use every day like how to draft a trust or how property passes without a will, and things I don’t use ever, like the Commerce Clause. But every so often, I think that there should be a few additional classes for students going in to [...]
A Day in the Life of a Not-So-Secret Agent (Part 2)
The further adventures of a health care proxy and agent under a durable power of attorney. Read part 1 here.
When we last left our not-so-secret agent, she had been to the post office and had visited her client at the rehab hospital and was just finishing up lunch at an Indian Restaurant in Harvard [...]
A Day in the Life of a Not-So-Secret Agent (Part 1)
I have a couple of clients for whom I serve as agent under their health care proxies and powers of attorney. A couple of days last week found me acting as agent for them. I thought I’d post a composite sketch as a example, both for those people who may be serving as agent (now [...]
What An Attorney Can and Cannot Do
Attorneys are not therapists. Or magicians. Or fortune tellers. Yet, often clients think we are. As a reminder, here are some things your attorney can and can’t do.
1. Your attorney cannot make your decisions for you. Your attorney can provide you with the information you need to help you make an informed decision. We can’t [...]
“Exactly How Much Power Am I Giving You?”
“Exactly how much power am I giving you?”
This was the question my father asked me when I wanted him to sign a durable power of attorney. (Yes, just as the cobbler’s children have no shoes, the lawyer’s father had no power of attorney.) He was in the middle of selling his house and buying a [...]
Better Sleep* and Peace of Mind – What Does An Attorney Sell?
Ironically, the idea for this post came to me during a bout of insomnia.
It’s often said that estate planning attorneys sell “peace of mind.” That is, we help people put the pieces in place that allow their family members (or people of their choosing) to legally assist them with their health care and financial decisions [...]
Choosing Long Term Care Insurance
I have many clients who have long term care insurance, and many who don't. From what I've seen, my clients with long term care insurance have many more options when it comes to choosing care and choosing where they live than my clients who don't. The New York Times has a recent article about how [...]
What to Do When You Can’t Decide
I sometimes have clients who have trouble making decisions – they can't decide who should be guardian of their children, they can't decide who to appoint as agent under a power of attorney, and they can't decide exactly how to distribute their property when they pass away. And so they do nothing. Maybe they call [...]
Passing On More Than Just Things – Leaving a Legacy Letter
When people think about their estate plan or their will, they commonly think about dividing up their things among the people who will survive them. How many people stop to consider what else they want to leave behind – memories, lessons, values and other priceless intangibles.
Some people will write a legacy letter to their [...]
Leanna@HamillLawOffice.com | 160 Old Derby St., Suite 456 | Hingham, Ma 02043 | Phone: 781.749.2284 | Fax: 866.573.6429
Advertising. In accordance with rules established by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, this web site must be labeled "advertising." It is designed to provide general information for clients and friends of the firm and should not be construed as legal advice, or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. By using this site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the attorney. The website should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state. Leanna Hamill is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts only.
Advertising. In accordance with rules established by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, this web site must be labeled "advertising." It is designed to provide general information for clients and friends of the firm and should not be construed as legal advice, or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. By using this site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the attorney. The website should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state. Leanna Hamill is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts only.