If you're young, healthy and busy building up your assets, an estate plan to distribute those assets might be the furthest thing from your mind. However if you divorce or become a widow estate planning to provide for disposition of our assets, guardianship of minor children and naming a person to make financial and health care decisions should be a topic you address sooner rather than later.

Did you know that if you haven't written a valid will, that the state in which you reside has effectively written one for you. The State rules will determine the persons who are your heirs, the amount your heirs will receive. The courts will decide who will care for your of your minor children (guardianship). If your relatives don't agree with the state's ruling, a long, expensive and traumatic custody battle can ensue. Did you know that if you are unmarried and have no relatives, the state will probably award your assets to itself.

So what to do? Write a valid will. If you have minor children name a guardian. If you plan on your children going to college, prepare a trust contained in your Will to provide for your children's health, education and welfare. To assure that your money goes for those specific purposes. Establish a trust and name a trustee who understands money matters and is a person different from your guardian to avoid any inherent conflicts of interests. Lastly, a trust is your only guarantee that the money you have been saving for your kids' college education won't be spent on something else.

Are you a member of the “sandwich generation?” If so,  consider making provision for the care of an elder parent to avoid potential guardianship litigation.

Products

Explaining, preparing and tailoring Wills. Trusts. Powers of Attorney, Health Care Proxies, and Declarations of Homestead in order to allow a client to reach her goals, Various asset protection and tax avoidance techniques are incorporated, as may be appropriate, in the trusts we prepare.

Bio

I'm Ramsey A. Bahrawy. I've practiced law in Massachusetts for thirty years. I have an associate who is licensed in New Hampshire as well. My office was established in North Andover, MA in January 1981., MA. My work concentrates in the fields of estate planning and elder law . I am a member in good standing of of the Merrimack Valley Estate Planning Council and National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. My office represents many women who have divorced or become widowed and require advice regarding establishing, structuring, or amending their estate plan in order to protect loved ones as well as assets.  Estate planning starts with education. It is my belief that an educated client will always attain peace of mind. Accordingly, I dedicate myself to the  goal of building my clients' trust.

Contact Information

Website:  BahrawyLaw.com  
E-mail:     Ramsey@BahrawyLaw.com    
Phone:     (978) 682-11421