Arlington Estate Planning Lawyer, Massachusetts

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Thomas LaPorte
About | Practice Areas
Cossingham Law Offices, PC
30 Massachusetts Avenue Suite 404 North Andover, MA 01845» view map
Estate, Real Estate, Employment
Top Quality Legal Services

Our attorneys are licensed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. We offer legal assistance with a high degree of knowledge.

800-931-3881
1. Thomas LaPorte North Andover, MA
  Attorney at Law- MA
  McGeorge School of Law, J.D. 1994
2. AboutCossingham Law Offices, PC
  Top Quality Legal Services
3. Practice AreasExpertise
  Estate Law
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Includes: Gift Taxation

Christine N. Fletcher

Wills & Probate, Corporate, Elder Law, Estate Planning

Status: In Good Standing

FREE CONSULTATION

CONTACT

430 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA 02420

Francis T. Reynolds

Business Organization, Wills & Probate, Corporate, Estate Planning

Status: In Good Standing

FREE CONSULTATION

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430 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA 02420

Karen G. Castaneda

Child Support, Farms, Divorce, Estate Planning

Status: In Good Standing

FREE CONSULTATION

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430 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA 02420

Margaret L. Cross

Elder Law, Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Mental Health

Status: In Good Standing

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Totten Pond Road Office Park, 375 Totten Pond Road, Waltham, MA 02451

Susana Lannik

Estate Planning, Wills & Probate, Elder Law, Trusts

Status: In Good Standing

FREE CONSULTATION

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Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458

Allan N. Maclean

Estate Planning, Employment, Divorce, Defamation & Slander

Status: In Good Standing Licensed: 15 Years

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111 Rice Street, Cambridge, MA 02140

Annika Mae Bockius-Suwyn

Estate Planning, Family Law, Divorce

Status: In Good Standing Licensed: 8 Years

CONTACT

60 Austin St, Newtonville, MA 02460

Ashley Anne Gignac

Estate Planning

Status: In Good Standing

CONTACT

375 Totten Pond Rd, Waltham, MA 02451

Brandon Kenneth Dunn

Estate Planning

Status: In Good Standing Licensed: 7 Years

CONTACT

800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Brett A. Robbins

International, Gift Taxation, Business

Status: In Good Standing Licensed: 40 Years

CONTACT

800 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199

800-923-0641

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LEGAL TERMS

PROBATE COURT

A specialized court or division of a state trial court that considers only cases concerning the distribution of deceased persons' estate. Called 'surrogate cour... (more...)

A specialized court or division of a state trial court that considers only cases concerning the distribution of deceased persons' estate. Called 'surrogate court' in New York and several other states, this court normally examines the authenticity of a will -- or if a person dies intestate, figures out who receives her property under state law. It then oversees a procedure to pay the deceased person's debts and to distribute her assets to the proper inheritors. See probate.

DISCHARGE (OF PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR)

A court order releasing the administrator or executor from any further duties connected with the probate of an estate. This typically occurs when the duties hav... (more...)

A court order releasing the administrator or executor from any further duties connected with the probate of an estate. This typically occurs when the duties have been completed but may happen sooner if the executor or administrator wishes to withdraw or is dismissed.

AB TRUST

A trust that allows couples to reduce or avoid estate taxes. Each spouse puts his or her property in an AB trust. When the first spouse dies, his or her half of... (more...)

A trust that allows couples to reduce or avoid estate taxes. Each spouse puts his or her property in an AB trust. When the first spouse dies, his or her half of the property goes to the beneficiaries named in the trust -- commonly, the grown children of the couple -- with the crucial condition that the surviving spouse has the right to use the property for life and is entitled to any income it generates. The surviving spouse may even be allowed to spend principal in certain circumstances. When the surviving spouse dies, the property passes to the trust beneficiaries. It is not considered part of the second spouse's estate for estate tax purposes. Using this kind of trust keeps the second spouse's taxable estate half the size it would be if the property were left directly to the spouse. This type of trust is also known as a bypass or credit shelter trust.

DOWER AND CURTESY

A surviving spouse's right to receive a set portion of the deceased spouse's estate -- usually one-third to one-half. Dower (not to be confused with a 'dowry') ... (more...)

A surviving spouse's right to receive a set portion of the deceased spouse's estate -- usually one-third to one-half. Dower (not to be confused with a 'dowry') refers to the portion to which a surviving wife is entitled, while curtesy refers to what a man may claim. Until recently, these amounts differed in a number of states. However, because discrimination on the basis of sex is now illegal in most cases, most states have abolished dower and curtesy and generally provide the same benefits regardless of sex -- and this amount is often known simply as the statutory share. Under certain circumstances, a living spouse may not be able to sell or convey property that is subject to the other spouse's dower and curtesy or statutory share rights.

DISINHERIT

To deliberately prevent someone from inheriting something. This is usually done by a provision in a will stating that someone who would ordinarily inherit prope... (more...)

To deliberately prevent someone from inheriting something. This is usually done by a provision in a will stating that someone who would ordinarily inherit property -- a close family member, for example -- should not receive it. In most states, you cannot completely disinherit your spouse; a surviving spouse has the right to claim a portion (usually one-third to one-half) of the deceased spouse's estate. With a few exceptions, however, you can expressly disinherit children.

POWER OF APPOINTMENT

The legal authority to decide who will receive someone else's property, usually property held in a trust. Most trustees can distribute the income from a trust o... (more...)

The legal authority to decide who will receive someone else's property, usually property held in a trust. Most trustees can distribute the income from a trust only according to the terms of the trust, but a trustee with a power of appointment can choose the beneficiaries, sometimes from a list of candidates specified by the grantor. For example, Karin creates a trust with power of appointment to benefit either the local art museum, symphony, library or park, depending on the trustee's assessment of need.

ALTERNATE BENEFICIARY

A person, organization or institution that receives property through a will, trust or insurance policy when the first named beneficiary is unable or refuses to ... (more...)

A person, organization or institution that receives property through a will, trust or insurance policy when the first named beneficiary is unable or refuses to take the property. For example, in his will Jake leaves his collection of sheet music to his daughter, Mia, and names the local symphony as alternate beneficiary. When Jake dies, Mia decides that the symphony can make better use of the sheet music than she can, so she refuses (disclaims) the gift, and the manuscripts pass directly to the symphony. In insurance law, the alternate beneficiary, usually the person who receives the insurance proceeds because the initial or primary beneficiary has died, is called the secondary or contingent beneficiary.

PER CAPITA

Under a will, the most common method of determining what share of property each beneficiary gets when one of the beneficiaries dies before the willmaker, leavin... (more...)

Under a will, the most common method of determining what share of property each beneficiary gets when one of the beneficiaries dies before the willmaker, leaving children of his or her own. For example, Fred leaves his house jointly to his son Alan and his daughter Julie. But Alan dies before Fred, leaving two young children. If Fred's will states that heirs of a deceased beneficiary are to receive the property per capita, Julie and the two grandchildren will each take a third. If, on the other hand, Fred's will states that heirs of a deceased beneficiary are to receive the property per stirpes, Julie will receive one-half of the property, and Alan's two children will share his half in equal shares (through Alan by right of representation).

Arlington Estate Planning Lawyer, Massachusetts

Sponsored Law Firm

Cossingham Law Offices, PC

SPONSORED LAWYERS

Christine N. Fletcher

Francis T. Reynolds

Karen G. Castaneda

Margaret L. Cross

Susana Lannik

Allan N. Maclean

Annika Mae Bockius-Suwyn

Ashley Anne Gignac

Brandon Kenneth Dunn

Brett A. Robbins

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LEGAL TERMS

PROBATE COURT

DISCHARGE (OF PROBATE ADMINISTRATOR)

AB TRUST

DOWER AND CURTESY

DISINHERIT

POWER OF APPOINTMENT

ALTERNATE BENEFICIARY

PER CAPITA

NET ESTATE

SAMPLE LEGAL CASES

Dwyer v. Dwyer

Shultz v. Shultz

Germain v. Girard

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