Probate?

Imagine learning from your lawyer that your spouse left you nothing. At Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C., clients ask us weekly whether this can happen in Massachusetts. Spousal Rights: An Overview of Inheritance Laws in Massachusetts Massachusetts protects spouses by giving them a guaranteed minimum portion of the estate, sometimes called the forced share or statutory…

Listing a person’s assets after their passing is a crucial part of the probate process. While many assume that property, bank accounts, and real estate naturally transfer to the right hands, complications often arise when the probate court requires a formal inventory. At Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C., we’ve guided Massachusetts families through probate and trusts…

Bereavement comes with paperwork, and will disputes can deepen the strain. For 90 years, Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C., has helped Massachusetts families deal with these challenges with practical counsel. Adjusting a Will After Death Most people assume a will cannot be changed once the writer passes, and that is partly true. You cannot rewrite the…

Ensuring your will is signed and witnessed correctly is critical. Small mistakes at this stage can send a family to probate court, costing time and money. At Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C., we have spent more than 90 years guiding Massachusetts families through estate planning, and we have seen how proper witnessing protects wishes and keeps…

During a person’s lifetime, their will is a private document. No one—not even family members—can access it unless the individual chooses to share it. However, after the person passes away, things change. If a will goes through probate, it becomes part of the public record. Probate is the legal process that ensures a person’s debts…

One of the biggest concerns in estate planning is ensuring assets pass smoothly to loved ones. Retirement accounts, often a major part of an estate, can either transfer seamlessly or become tangled in probate. Whether these funds avoid probate depends on how they are structured. Generally, retirement accounts bypass probate as long as properly designated…

Losing a loved one is never easy, and handling their estate can feel overwhelming. At Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C., we have been guiding Massachusetts families through probate for over 90 years. We know how important it is to settle an estate quickly and efficiently without unnecessary complications. For estates that qualify, informal probate can be…

Dealing with the legal aspects of a loved one’s estate can feel like an overwhelming responsibility.  However, Massachusetts provides an option for certain small estates called voluntary administration. This simplified probate process can help families settle their loved one’s affairs with fewer complications.  At Casey Lundregan Burns, P.C., our firm has been helping families understand…

Losing a family member is an unimaginably difficult time, and dealing with the legal matters that follow can feel overwhelming and totally inappropriate. It is not abnormal to want to put off the probate process while you’re in mourning. While probate isn’t always necessary, understanding when and how to start the process is essential. With…

Probate is much maligned. To hear some folks talk, having your estate subject to probate is worse than dying. What’s all the fuss about? Understanding Probate Probate is a title proceeding. If a person dies owning property, the question arises – Who is the next rightful owner? Probate is the procedure by which the ownership is…