Westport News

For our Firm, estate planning is about developing a lifetime relationship with our clients. We custom craft documents to assist you and your family. Estate planning documents should not be done and then put on a shelf and forgotten until you die. Life changes and we want you to have the peace of mind knowing that your documents work for you when you need them too.

Our website starts you off with a questionnaire, but then has a non-lawyer “Specialist who cannot give legal advice, “review your answers”! The article states: “Each state has different rules for wills, so any legitimate form or service must be tailored to your state.” Do you want to guess whether or not the website you turned to is “legitimate”? Believe us when we tell you we have seen many documents, particularly Durable Powers of Attorneys that supposedly were suitable for Massachusetts, but in fact were totally inappropriate. The article goes on to say “Most experts agree that do-it –yourself Wills are best suited for people worth less than  $2 million, the current threshold for triggering estate taxes.” Not so! While $2 million is less than the threshold for federal estate taxes, a Massachusetts estate of $1 million triggers an estate tax, and requires tax planning. Furthermore, if you are concerned about protecting your assets from your children’s creditors after your death a do-it-yourself Will won’t meet your needs.

The article says “You don’t want to have the witness be people who will inherit under the Will”. What it does not say, and what often happens, is that relatives of those who inherit under the Will should not be witness to the Will. This leaves the door wide open for someone to contest the Will by charging of undue influence and duress. Totally independent witnesses are an absolute necessity.  The article goes on to warn that the Will should be put in a safe place, and suggests a fireproof box at home. Left unanswered is what happens should a disgruntled heir come across that fireproof box! What the article does state correctly is that real life situations don’t always fit into a fill-in-the-blank online Will. Do you want to entrust the future of your family to a $19.95 online Will?

Winter Weather Preparedness Tips Is your home ready for winter? Practice these winter energy-saving tips:

Set our thermostat as low as is comfortable

Make sure that baseboard heaters and radiators are not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.

Close your curtains and shades at night and open them during the day.

Wrap the hot water pipes nearest the heater with insulation.

Wrap those pipes nearest the heater first for greatest savings.

As your home settles, gaps can open along the doors and windows. Installing and/or replacing the weather stripping around doors and windows can solve this.

Are you having difficulty paying for your fuel costs? Low-income households may be eligible for Fuel Assistance. You may apply by calling Bristol Elder Services at 508-675-2101 for information.

Flashlights and extra batteries.

Battery-powered radio and extra batteries.

Canned/no-cook foods and a non-electric can opener.

One gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation.

First Aid kit.

Prescription medications

Extra needednmedical supplies such as diabetic testing supplies.

Rock salt to melt ice on walk ways, sand to improve traction, and a shovel.

*Here are some tips to remember if you lose electricity during a winter storm:

Look to see if your neighbors have power. Turn off electrical appliances, and when power is restored, turn things back on one at a time to prevent a power surge on the lines.