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Estate Planning and Second Marriages

Maintaining an updated estate plan is an important aspect of financial care. It is especially important to update following a divorce and/or the start of a second marriage. Blended families and new marriages create an interesting problem for will-makers, as they must find a way to honor the new spouse and children without disregarding children from the previous marriage.

This sort of incorporation is a difficult and delicate task, but not impossible with the proper guidance. The key to success is fully understanding the current family dynamics of the client. Family dynamics can shift over time, and so providing grounded advice on how to pass down assets and what estate planning tools work best for the situation is crucial.

A spousal trust tool is one of the most useful tools; it ensures that the surviving spouse will have access to trust assets during their lifetime and that these remaining assets will pass onto the children of the predeceased spouse. This form of trust allows for rollover treatments and graduated rates of taxation. Other estate planning tools could include careful splitting of assets, and the designation of life insurance to children.

At Fields and Dennis LLP, we treat our clients with the utmost respect during the delicate process of estate planning. We are a trusted firm that openly communicates with our clients during this planning process. Please contact us today if you are looking for a trusted and strategic Boston divorce lawyer.For more on estate planning in a second marriage: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/suzana-popovicmontag/second-family-will_b_8010438.html

Filed Under: Divorce, Divorce and Family Law, Estate Planning, Family Law, Marriage Tagged With: blended families, Estate Planning, Estate Planning Tips, Second Marriage

Estate Planning Lessons from Tony Soprano

The tragic and untimely death of James Gandolfini shocked and saddened fans of the talented actor. And, since his will became public last month, there has been much commentary on the state of his affairs prior to his passing.

The actor’s will exposes common estate planning problems that can easily occur with blended families. Gandolfini had a 14-year-old son from a previous marriage and a one-year-old daughter with his second wife, who he was married to at the time of his death. Read more.

Filed Under: Divorce, Estate Planning Tagged With: blended families, Estate Planning Mistakes, James Gandolfini, trusts, Will

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Phone: 781.489.6776
Fax: 781.489.6233
80 William Street — Suite 210
Wellesley, MA 02481 USA

Recent Posts

A Diamond is Forever, But the Engagement Ring May Be Ne’er

January 27, 2021

The article below was written by Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW  and published in Citybizlist on January 25, 2021 Lest you think that the proprieties and perplexities surrounding broken engagements are a modern phenomenon, we need only look back to the 15th century. It is said that in 1477, Archduke Maximillian of Austria commissioned […]

Attorney Jonathan E. Fields Quoted in Wall Street Journal

January 21, 2021

Attorney Jonathan E. Fields was quoted in today’s Wall Street Journal Millennials Embrace Prenups—but Through a Very Different Lens Than in the Past Millennials are using prenups to address new economic and social issues—including rising student debt, social-media use and embryo ownership By Cheryl Winokur Munk Jan. 21, 2021 1:00 pm ET Millennials are often […]

Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW receives the Avvo Clients’ Choice Award Badge for 2021

January 14, 2021

Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW was presented with Avvo Clients’ Choice Award Badge for 2021. This award is given to attorneys whose outstanding legal services have resulted in highly satisfied clients. There’s nothing that an attorney can do to ask for a Clients’ Choice Award. Instead, Avvo makes the award based only on quality […]

Attorney Jonathan Fields Quoted in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

January 5, 2021

Snap Judgments: Lawyers predict issue that will dominate legal landscape in 2021 By: Kris Olson December 31, 2020 (From Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly)  Q. Prediction time: What issue on the horizon will dominate the legal landscape in 2021?   “Five hours of time for a five-minute hearing has never seemed so wasteful. With the experience of remote hearings, will […]

Please Support Fields and Dennis LLP’s Fundraiser for K9s For Warriors

December 21, 2020

K9s For Warriors saves both warriors and rescue dogs. The program serves our warriors with service-connected Post-traumatic Stress Disability (PTSD) traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or military sexual trauma, which can be deadly disorders. A trained rescue dog is paired with a warrior and the two meet for two weeks of training together at one of […]

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    Recent Blogs

    • Advice On Cooperative Co-Parenting During & After An Acrimonious Divorce: It will Improve your Mental Health
    • A Diamond is Forever, But the Engagement Ring May Be Ne’er
    • Attorney Jonathan E. Fields featured in Times of London on Prenuptial Agreements and Social Media
    • Attorney Jonathan E. Fields Quoted in Wall Street Journal
    • Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW receives the Avvo Clients’ Choice Award Badge for 2021

    Recent Firm News & Coverage

    • A Diamond is Forever, But the Engagement Ring May Be Ne’er

    • Attorney Jonathan E. Fields Quoted in Wall Street Journal

    • Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW receives the Avvo Clients’ Choice Award Badge for 2021

    • Attorney Jonathan Fields Quoted in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

    • Please Support Fields and Dennis LLP’s Fundraiser for K9s For Warriors

    The Boston metro family law, divorce and estate planning attorneys at the law firm of Fields and Dennis LLP are based in the Newton Wellesley area and serve the city of Newton: Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Newton Centre, Newton Corner, Newton Upper Falls, Newton Lower Falls, Nonantum, Oak Hill, Waban and West Newton and town of Wellesley: Babson Park, Wellesley Hills, Wellesley Square Fields and Dennis also serves many clients in the Greater Boston and Massachusetts region including Ashland, Dover, Holliston, Medfield, Needham, Sherborn, Westwood, and all of Massachusetts.

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