Can You Still Get a Charitable Deduction Under the New Tax Law? It Depends
There are many good reasons to give gifts and make charitable donations. Supporting a cause you care about tops the list. Research studies suggest that a habit of charitable giving may make [...]
Want to Avoid Politics at Thanksgiving? Try This Important Conversation
Ah, Thanksgiving—a time when families gather, usually at one table, for good food, good cheer and—well, maybe not always—good conversation. Politics is a non-starter for many families. So this year, instead of [...]
World War I Veterans Honored by New Memorial in Green Hill Park
Lawyers and staff at Mountain, Dearborn & Whiting contribute time and expertise to many Worcester area non-profit organizations, as part of the firm’s commitment to building a better community. Dale Harger’s involvement [...]
Homebuyer Beware—of Ghosts! How to Avoid Purchasing a House of Horrors
Boo! It’s already October, and Halloween looms. My family loves the spooky holiday, ghost stories and horror films. Recently we watched a few frightening flicks with a common theme: An unsuspecting family [...]
Lessons from “Lady Bird”: Four Reasons Why You Need a Will to Determine Who Gets What
Lady Bird is my hands-down favorite film this year. Like the protagonist, I spent my formative years in Catholic schools. The movie prompted fond memories of plaid uniforms, cotton knee socks that [...]
For Your Digital Assets, There Is Life After Death
You’re working on your estate plan with your attorney, and she asks if you’re on Facebook. Don’t be alarmed—she’s not trying to “friend” you. There’s a good reason for her question: your [...]
So You Want to Officiate at a Wedding: How to Get a One-Day Designation Certificate in Massachusetts
Ah, June, one of the most popular months for weddings. A couple of years ago, I attended a memorable wedding at a beautiful ocean-side setting in a neighboring state. To my surprise, [...]
Memorial Day Memories: D-Day, 1944
On June 6, 1944, Richard Dearborn was a 23-year-old Ensign in the U.S Navy, stationed on a tank landing ship (LST) anchored off Omaha Red Beach in Normandy. In this excerpt from [...]
“The Big Sick” Offers Big Lessons About Health Care Proxies
April 16 is National Healthcare Decision Day, kicking off a week of awareness for advanced health care planning. There’s no better time to execute a health care proxy, if you don’t yet [...]
How I Know That Florence Foster Jenkins Did Not Consult Her Estate Planning Attorney
A New York City socialite, heiress to a massive fortune, Florence Foster Jenkins blindly took a huge risk when she attempted to change her will—if the movie version of her story is [...]
