One of the biggest obstacles that people seem to come up against when thinking about drawing up a Will or making some plans for retirement is uncertainty about the process. It’s common to avoid things that make us nervous, and many people put off calling an attorney about their estate plan because they don’t even [...]
Estate planning, elder law, special needs, probate, guardianship. Leanna Hamill, Hingham
Category Archives: Estate Planning
Is Your Attorney Nosy? You Should Hope So
I was bitten by a tick last summer and went to the doctor to have it checked out. The first thing they did, as always, was weigh me and take my blood pressure. I wondered how either of these things were relevant to my tick bite, so I asked. The response, “the [...]
Links of Interest
Here are some recent estate planning articles from around the web. Links will open in a new window, so you can read the articles without losing this page.
…[I]f an individual dies intestate (without a will) the probate courts will determine how to distribute that person’s assets. And although the court system may [...]
How Do I Convince My Parents to Do Their Wills?
This is a very common question that I get from adult children calling my office, friends asking about their parents or that I sometimes ask myself.
While we know that we mean well when we want to make sure our parents have their estate plan in place, I think that what our parents hear is “Hey, [...]
Why Am I In the Waiting Room?
If you bring your parent to an appointment with an elder law attorney, you might want to bring a good book or your knitting. This is because you may be sitting in the waiting room for most of the meeting.
The American Bar Association explains why in their pamphlet Why Am I Left in the Waiting [...]
Why Do I Need A Trust?
I sometimes forget that clients cannot read my mind. We will be talking about their estate plan and making sure that their minor or disabled children are provided for and I’ll mention the word “trust.” I mean in the general sense of “a person (the trustee) holding property for the benefit of another (the beneficiary.)” [...]
Need the Perfect Wedding Gift?
Tired of the same old items on a wedding gift registry? An article in the Boston Globe points out that some couples are looking to register for more useful things – like legal services. It makes sense; once you are married you’ll need a Will, perhaps to update your health care proxy and power of [...]
Links You’ll Love
Here’s a round up of things I’ve been reading this week. All the links open in a new window, so feel free to read one and then come back, without fear of getting lost in the internet.
Damomma, also known as Elizabeth Soutter and the woman who helped design my website, has a beautifully touching post [...]
“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 [...]
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.