What Happens to My Child’s 529 College Savings Plan If I Die?

You and your spouse want to provide as much as possible towards your child’s future college education.  So you did the responsible thing years ago and started a 529 college savings plan.  But what happens if you and your spouse die while your child is still a minor?  Well, your estate will become the owner […]

Spring Cleaning? Dust Off Your Old Estate Plan With this Checklist

Here are some details to help you evaluate whether your plan will do what you need, and when.  My legal documents were drafted by a Massachusetts attorney following a review of my family and financial circumstances and a personal consultation with me to clarify my wishes and create a custom-tailored plan to suit my unique […]

What is Estate Planning & Do I Need a Will Now?

“Estate planning” is really about how you wish matters to be handled in the event of your incapacity and after your death. Who would you want to make medical decisions for you if you were unable? In what ways would you wish to be kept alive and for how long? How would you wish for […]

How Do I Find the Right Lawyer to Write My Will and Trust?

Step one was realizing that you need a Will, Trust, Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, Living Will, and other Estate Planning legal documents. Those are all necessary parts of having your own comprehensive estate plan. Or maybe you recognized that it is time to update your Will, Trust, and estate plan because so […]

How LGBTQ+ Individuals and Families Can Protect Themselves Post-Roe

How LGBTQ+ Individuals and Families Can Protect Themselves Post-Roe   The Supreme Court’s unprecedented overturning of about a half-century of legal precedent from Roe v. Wade, left LGBTQ+ individuals and families worried and confused about what they can do to protect themselves and their families now. Every adult over the age of 18, including LGBTQ+ […]

9/11 – 20 Years Ago Tomorrow, somehow feels like just yesterday & a lifetime ago

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, my husband and I woke up before dawn in Rome, Italy to fly home through NYC to Washington, D.C., where we were living at that time. He snapped this picture of me as we were leaving for the airport. Around 11:00 am Eastern time, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, we watched on […]

Google – How to Set Up Inactive Account Manager

Did you know that when someone dies that person’s social media accounts remain active until a family member memorializes, deactivates, or deletes the accounts? DGVE law is pleased to provide you with this practical, step-by-step guide on how to handle your Google account & prepare for the future. (Download print version) Google Account:   Go […]

How to Manage Social Media Accounts in Case of Death – Facebook & Instagram

Did you know that when someone dies that person’s social media accounts remain active until a family member memorializes, deactivates, or deletes the accounts? DGVE law is pleased to provide you with this practical, step-by-step guide on how to handle your loved ones’ social media accounts. ( Download print version.) Facebook: How to add your […]

LEGISLATIVE ALERT: The SECURE Act & How It Affects Retirement and Estate Planning

LEGISLATIVE ALERT: The SECURE Act & How It Affects Retirement and Estate Planning Today the Senate passed The SECURE Act as part of its grand spending package. The acronym stands for Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement. Now that the bill has passed both the House and the Senate with broad bipartisan support, the […]

How Much For a Simple Will?

This is the #1 question we field and also one of the most challenging to answer.    There are very inexpensive Will-drafting software packages for sale in office supply and box stores (about $50), there are relatively inexpensive online Will drafting services (about $100), there are are fresh-out-of-law-school newbies advertising on Craigslist who will draft a […]