Estate Planning
Estate planning creates a framework for how your assets are protected, managed, and ultimately passed on. It addresses lifetime planning, future transitions, and family stability. At Anosike Law, we guide Massachusetts clients through trusts, wills, and incapacity documents as part of a coordinated plan focused on preservation, clarity, and peace of mind.
The sections below explain how trusts, wills, and incapacity planning work together.
Revocable Living Trust
A revocable living trust is a legal document that holds your assets during your lifetime and directs how they are managed if you become unable to manage them yourself. It also determines how assets are distributed after death, often allowing families to avoid the delays and public nature of probate in Massachusetts.
Unlike a will, which only takes effect after death, a trust works during your lifetime as well. Because it addresses both incapacity and asset transfer, it is often central to a complete estate plan.
A properly drafted trust can:
Help your family avoid the probate process
Maintain privacy around your assets and decisions
Provide clear instructions for management of property and finances
Support long-term planning for children, spouses, or dependent
Wills
A Will is often the first document people think of when considering estate planning, and for good reason. It provides clear legal instructions for how your assets should be distributed after your passing and names the person responsible for carrying out those wishes.
Just as importantly, a Will allows you to make critical decisions about guardianship for minor children. Without a Will, these decisions may be left to a Massachusetts court, creating uncertainty and additional stress for loved ones during an already difficult time.
A properly drafted Will can:
Direct how property and assets are distributed
Name a trusted person to serve as personal representative
Appoint guardians for minor children
Reduce confusion and conflict among family members
Incapacity Planning
Illness or injury can happen unexpectedly. Without clear legal authority in place, loved ones may be required to seek court involvement to manage financial matters or make medical decisions on your behalf.
Powers of attorney and health care proxies are designed to provide clarity, stability, and legal authority during uncertain moments. These documents allow trusted individuals to make financial and medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. While many people focus on what happens after death, incapacity planning protects you during your lifetime, when thoughtful preparation matters most.
Guidance from an experienced estate planning attorney ensures these documents are prepared with care and precision.
Proper incapacity planning helps you:
Decide who will make decisions for you
Avoid guardianship or conservatorship proceedings
Provide clear legal authority for trusted individuals
Reduce confusion during emergencies
