Estate Planning & Probate Services in Massachusetts
Will’s Wills, PLLC helps Massachusetts individuals and families create wills, trusts, and incapacity plans, and guides them through probate and trust administration after a loved one passes. We serve Natick, MetroWest, Greater Boston, and the broader Massachusetts area.
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Estate Planning with Core Plus Planning
Every estate plan we create starts with a "Core" of essential documents: a Will or Trust, a Durable Financial Power of Attorney, a Health Care Proxy, and HIPAA Authorizations. From there, we add only the tools that fit your goals, such as an irrevocable trust, an ILIT, or an LLC. The result is a plan that is comprehensive without unnecessary complexity or cost.
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Wills
A will names who receives your property, who will settle your estate (your Personal Representative), and who will care for your minor children. For many people, a will is the right foundation for an estate plan. A will does not avoid probate, so we'll help you decide whether a will or a trust is the better fit.
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Revocable Living Trusts
A revocable trust lets you keep control of your assets during your lifetime and pass them to your beneficiaries without going through probate. That means more privacy, less delay, and often lower cost for your family. We draft the trust and help you fund it, so it works the way it should.
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Irrevocable Trusts & Home Protection
An irrevocable trust can help protect your home and other assets from MassHealth (Medicaid) estate recovery if you may need long-term care later in life. Timing matters with these trusts, so planning early gives you the most options.
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Massachusetts Estate Tax Planning & ILITs
Massachusetts taxes estates over $2 million, a much lower threshold than the federal estate tax. With tools like a double (credit shelter) trust for married couples or an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT), we can help reduce the tax your family owes and keep life insurance proceeds out of your taxable estate.
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Incapacity Planning
If you become unable to make decisions for yourself, the right documents let someone you trust step in without going to court. We prepare a Durable Financial Power of Attorney, a Health Care Proxy, and HIPAA Authorizations so your finances and medical care are handled the way you want.
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Probate & Estate Administration
Estate administration is the process of settling a person's affairs after they pass: gathering assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to the heirs. We guide Personal Representatives through the Massachusetts probate process step by step, from the first court filing to the final distribution, with clear communication and compassionate support.
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Trust Administration & Amendments
When a loved one's trust becomes irrevocable at their death, the trustee has legal duties to manage and distribute the trust assets. We guide trustees through that process. We also review and update existing trusts when your family, finances, or the law changes.
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LLC Formation
We form Massachusetts LLCs for small business owners and rental property owners, and coordinate the LLC with your estate plan so your business interests pass smoothly to the next generation.
How it Works
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Initial Meeting
We learn about you, your family, and your goals, and answer your questions.
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Design Meeting
We walk through your options and recommend the right approach, such as a will, a single trust, or a double trust.
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Signing & Next Steps
You review and sign your documents, and we guide what comes next, such as funding your trust, updating beneficiary designations, or filing with the court.
FAQs
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It depends on your goals. A will is often enough for people with simpler estates, but it doesn't avoid probate. A revocable trust avoids probate, keeps your affairs private, and can make things easier for your family. We'll help you decide at your Design Meeting.
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Most estate plans are offered for a flat fee, quoted after your free initial consultation, so you'll know the cost before we begin.
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Massachusetts law decides who inherits your property, which may not match your wishes, and the Probate Court appoints someone to settle your estate. If you have minor children, the court also decides who will raise them.
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Many Massachusetts estates take about a year or more to settle, depending on the estate's complexity, the type of probate, and whether anyone contests it. A funded revocable trust can avoid probate altogether.
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We recommend reviewing your plan every 3-5 years and after major life events, such as marriage, divorce, a birth, a move, or a big change in your finances.
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We’re always happy to do initial and design meetings virtually. Estate plan signatures require an in person meeting, but can be done either at our Natick office or a place convenient for you.
Ready to get started?
Schedule a free consultation and we’ll talk through your goals