Old Colony Law is an estate planning and asset protection law firm serving business owners, married couples and the charitably inclined in the Pioneer Valley and throughout Western Massachusetts.
Foundational estate planning
If you do not have an estate plan, you leave it to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to make important personal decisions on your behalf. With Old Colony Law, you can rest assured that you have an estate plan that reflects your choices.
Advanced estate planning
In addition, estate planning with Old Colony Law can help minimize estate taxes, protect your children’s inheritances from divorcing spouses and other creditors, and incorporate charitable gifting to leave behind a lasting legacy.
Get started
We would appreciate the opportunity to hear about your estate planning needs or concerns, whether you are looking to engage in estate planning for the first time or are looking to modernize existing documents. Please feel welcome to schedule a brief phone call with us to get started.
Typical Old Colony Law Clients
- Retired individuals with adult children
- Working professionals and business owners seeking asset protection
- High net worth individuals and families
Seven Reasons for Estate Planning
Here is an overview of Old Colony Law’s seven reasons for estate planning. You are welcome to download our white paper, Seven Reasons for Estate Planning, to take a deeper dive.
Distribution of Assets at Death
If you don’t decide how your assets are to be distributed at your death, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has already decided for you.
Planning for Incapacity
Who will attend to your financial, property and business affairs, and make medical decisions on your behalf if you can’t make those decisions for yourself?
Asset Protection for Beneficiaries
How will your child’s inheritance be protected from predators and creditors?
Managing a Loved One’s Inheritance
Various types of trusts are available if you have concerns about leaving an inheritance outright to a loved one.
Estate Tax Elimination or Reduction
Even people who don’t consider themselves to be wealthy are surprised to learn that their estate may be subject to Massachusetts estate tax.
Avoiding Probate
In addition to potentially saving costs on estate administration, avoiding probate can help protect your privacy.
Appointing Guardians
Without a will, parents leave it to the court to decide guardianship of minor children, often with family members fighting over who should have control.
Resources for Other Professionals
We collaborate with financial advisors, financial planners, CPAs, tax preparers, insurance professionals and other lawyers in serving our mutual and prospective clients. We offer the following resources for your consideration in that effort:
- We hold community seminars that are open to the public, but are also happy to appear at private events to speak on basic estate planning or advanced topics such as charitable giving strategies, estate tax planning, and asset protection techniques.
- Our estate tax updates can help keep you current on relevant news and changes in the law.
- You are welcome to use our white papers as informational and educational materials for your clients.
Please feel welcome to contact us if we can be helpful or you would like to collaborate on a workshop or educational forum for your clients.
Meet Us
Claire Crowley, Attorney
- Attorney in Massachusetts and New Hampshire
- Legal experience includes working as attorney at a New England estate planning boutique law firm drafting Wills, Revocable Trusts, Powers of Attorney and Medical Directives; drafting and researching legal briefs; drafting and negotiating contracts
Claire may be contacted at 413 387 0080 or [email protected].
Ben Palkowski, Attorney, CPA
- Attorney and CPA in Massachusetts
- Legal experience includes working as tax and health care lawyer and lobbyist at a large northern New England law firm; advising organizations on campaign finance and IRS compliance, and establishing political entities
Ben may be contacted at 413 387 0080 or [email protected].