Regardless of your life circumstances, it is important to plan and prepare for the future, and to take measures to protect yourself and your family. While this is true for everyone, it is especially so for people who are experiencing a major life change: engagement, marriage, or divorce; the birth or adoption of a child; or a change in living situation. At Krispin Law, we represent our clients diligently in planning for their finances and loved ones. We create prenuptial agreements, wills, and trusts designed to meet your unique needs and give you peace of mind for the future.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

A prenuptial agreement is a contract entered into by two people who are planning to marry each other. These agreements typically address how financial issues will be handled during the marriage, during a divorce, or upon the death of one spouse.

A prenuptial agreement can give any engaged couple the opportunity to learn about each others’ finances and establish shared values about managing assets and debts. These agreements are especially helpful for business owners or others with assets they do not want to be subject to division in a divorce. Prenuptial agreements are also valuable for people with children from a prior relationship who want to protect their children’s inheritance.

A postnuptial agreement is similar to a prenuptial agreement except that it is entered into after a couple is married. A postnuptial agreement may be a good idea if you have a significant change in your financial situation during your marriage, such as starting a business or receiving a large inheritance.

Wills

A Last Will and Testament is the basic building block of an estate plan. A will is a document that states how your property should be distributed after your death. In your will, you can name the person you want to be in charge of managing your estate (your personal representative). If you have young children, you can also appoint a person in your will to serve as guardian for your children if you die before they become adults. This is essential because if you do not choose a guardian, the court will select one, and it may be a person you would not have chosen.

Trusts

Many people have a trust in addition to, or instead of, a will. A living trust allows you to keep control over your property during your life. When you die or if you become unable to manage your affairs, a person you have chosen (your trustee) will take over managing the trust, distributing the assets to your beneficiaries according to the instructions you put in the trust.

Trusts are popular for many reasons. One is that assets in a trust do not need to go through the probate process in court, which makes settling the estate simpler. Another reason is that property in the trust can be held and managed for beneficiaries who may not be prepared to deal with receiving their inheritance all at once.

Experienced, Compassionate Representation for Your Planning Needs

Many people delay making an estate plan because the process seems overwhelming and they don’t know where to start or what they need. You do not need to figure it out on your own. At Krispin Law, we have represented individuals, families, and business owners in planning for a secure future. We will listen to your concerns and advise you based on our decades of legal experience and our knowledge of Massachusetts law. Then we will prepare the documents that you need, designed specifically to achieve your planning goals.

To learn more about how our team can help with your Massachusetts prenuptial agreement or estate plan, we invite you to contact Krispin Law to schedule a consultation. We offer both in-person and virtual consultations for your convenience.