Fabisch Law OfficesEstate Planning · Elder Law · Probate
Probate, Estate Planning & Elder Law — Rhode Island & Massachusetts
Insights
Most families come to Massachusetts probate carrying two things at once: grief, and a bank that will not move. Someone has died, the will is sitting in a drawer, and the people left behind need a court to say who has authority before anyone can touch an account or sign a deed. The questions arrive … Read more
The short answer first, because it is the one families actually want. A straightforward, uncontested Rhode Island estate commonly takes somewhere between nine and eighteen months to settle, and contested matters go substantially longer. The single biggest reason it is rarely faster is not the court alone. It is the creditor period, a legally required … Read more
The short answer first, because it is the one families actually want. A straightforward, uncontested Massachusetts estate commonly takes somewhere in the range of about a year to settle, with many running in the twelve-to-eighteen-month neighborhood and complicated ones going well beyond that. The single biggest reason it rarely closes faster is not the court. … Read more
A Connecticut man dies owning a beach house in Newport. A retired couple from Florida kept the Providence three-decker they raised their children in. In each case the family opens probate where the person actually lived, and they assume that proceeding settles everything. Then they try to sell the Rhode Island house, and the title … Read more
For many families, a Last Will and Testament is the first – and sometimes only – estate planning document they ever sign. While revocable trusts have become the primary planning tool for many Rhode Islanders, a well-drafted will still plays a crucial role in nearly every comprehensive estate plan. Whether you own a single home … Read more
Estate planning is one of those topics everyone means to handle “soon,” and everyone has heard a confident friend repeat a half-true rule that later turns out to be a headache. As a trusts-and-estates attorney (and former Smithfield, Rhode Island probate judge), I’ve seen families pay for these myths the hard way – with avoidable … Read more
When an estate includes a house or other real property, there are two “closings” in play that sound similar but operate on very different tracks: the real-estate closing, where the deed is signed and the sale proceeds are issued; and the probate closing, where you file your final papers to wrap up the estate and … Read more
When a loved one passes away owning real estate in Massachusetts, families often assume the home can be transferred or sold to heirs with minimal complication. In reality, Massachusetts law places a web of obligations, liens, and statutory rights on estate property at the moment of death. These legal interests ensure that creditors, tax authorities, … Read more
Experienced estate planning lawyers can provide you with help in responding to life’s milestones. When you experience big life changes, like marriage, divorce, buying a home, or the birth of a child, you need to ensure that you have an estate plan in place to protect yourself and your family in light of the new … Read more
Imagine this: Your spouse is in the hospital after a sudden accident. Bills still need to be paid. A business deal is on the table. The mortgage renewal is due next week. But without legal authority, you can’t sign a check, transfer funds, or make a decision in their name. The bank tells you to “bring … Read more