Your Experience

​We've thought it out and you will benefit from our focus on the topic of wills and trusts for MA residents.

From your initial call to us, through us penciling in a date and time for a meeting, our comfortable, educational, and focused discussion (Our Meeting: What to expect), our double-checking spelling and details with our follow up phone call, and you signing legal documents in about 3-4 weeks.

An effective process designed to end procrastination and provide you peace of mind.

​Continuing by us mailing to you at no charge --- after the documents are signed --- twice annual detailed reminders of life events that you may want to keep in mind about your estate planning.  Simply put, things happen.

We'll strive to provide a plain English and thoughtful experience. 
​

31 Google reviews

5.0 

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Why a plain English DOCUMENT approach?

​​While not beautiful like a vase of flowers, art, or music, legal documents can be made dramatically easier to read. Using consistent focus and editing, wills and trusts can be almost beautiful. (See sample below).

Why bother with the extra care?

Because attractiveness and clarity invites reading, and reading leads to understanding. If you, and your family after you, can make their way through the document, then they can understand your wishes. 

And then act on them, by reading the document and not missing the particular on page 5 that's important to your entire family. And using the tax and non-tax protections your documents should give.

Maybe more importantly, you should get the experience of having a serious professional explain to you your options in plain language and increase your understanding of the topic from mostly zero to double or more.

Joel Bernstein

Clients review us here

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​Welcome to MA Wills and Trusts
Estate planning & post death administration law

​​​Joel Bernstein is a Lexington, MA estate planning and post death attorney. Since 1992, MA residents have valued his innovative work for two primary reasons:
​

• Single focus  First, they appreciate our single focus for over 27 years, not distracted by other legal areas.
• Websites of other lawyers generally list many areas of practice, (divorce, personal injury, etc) leading to dispersed knowledge and firms not optimized for wills and trusts. And weak post death administration systems.
• But, like many areas of work (and play), we feel that deeper understanding, more nuanced thinking, and better results tends to come from a single focus.

 

• ​Plain English   Second, MA residents have learned of  Attorney Bernstein's strong interest in the plain English approach to documents, letters, and speaking style. 
• While this complex area of law sometimes needs some dense language, he works hard to minimize it.

​
An educational, efficient approach a result of:

• a ​focus on one legal area;​
• national reputation in automation (published American Bar Association national columnist);

• advanced Boston University Tax Law degree; and
• daily (6 a.m.) reading (45 minutes) in both this legal topic and how to write in plain English (for 20+ years.)

​​Clients tell us they like this approach because it is​

• (mostly) understandable;
• reasonably priced; and
• continually refined to give a better client experience.

Continued updates   After you sign the documents,  we've written to clients twice annually for 26 years.

We've done this to alert clients about law changes and remind them of possible life events that may affect their estate planning efforts.

• We see that life gives/hits people an ongoing stream of good and bad events, both voluntary and involuntary.

 

• Unlike other law firms that never communicate after documents are signed, clients appreciate our efforts that don't stop when you walk out the door.

​

• Joel was a pioneer in 1985 as he wrote and spoke at national American Bar Association conferences on the future role of the database approach for both document creation and continued client education and contact. We've honed this concept since then.

Investment in our approach benefits client  Since he started his focus in this area of law, he's sharpened both his knowledge and communication skills. And he's been recognized as almost a unique Boston area estate planning attorney.

​As people leaving the first meeting routinely comment,  they've never had the experience that the office gives daily to those with little initial knowledge. It's at the center of what the office provides - it is way more than just legal documents.

Whom likes the approach   People who like this approach and become highly satisfied long-term clients want:​
​

• to get it done promptly;
• correctly; and 
• better understand the process and the end result.

Summary   The office is a locally recognized source of good estate planning using wills and trusts.​​ And handling post death matters for both existing clients and others.

Read a Typical Plain English Page
​
The wording, large borders, headings, and more active writing style makes it easier to read and understand.

​"You seem to know something about law. I like that in an attorney."

Come discuss ​these estate planning issues​

FOUR GOALS OF ESTATE PLANNING

HOW TO START

WHY AND HOW TO NAME A GUARDIAN

CHOICES IF A BENEFICIARY HAS AN ISSUE

WHY ESTATE TAX PLANNING?

NOT UNDERSTAND YOUR OWN WILL OR TRUST DOCUMENTS?

BACKGROUND OF THE PLAIN ENGLISH LAW MOVEMENT

CAN A WILL BECOME OUTDATED?

WHY A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY DOCUMENT?

MEDICAL DECISION MAKING

STEPS TO TAKE AFTER A DEATH

MARRIED TO A NON-U.S. CITIZEN? SPECIAL CONCERN

​Call us at 781-863-8606. Ask to set up a "Meet 1."
We'll know what to do. It's all we do.​

How we work

Abit more humor

"Now read me the part again where I disinherit everybody."

Our approach​ in a nutshell​

​Meet 1: A personalized, objective, clear discussion about your estate planning options.

And, if y0u decide to move ahead, a second meeting in which we sign the documents. Our process includes:
​

• Standardized, reasonable fees, always working from a written fee agreement outlining work and deadline.
• Completion of your estate planning within generally 3-4 weeks.
• Done with respect, professionalism, and attention to detail. Focused, nuanced and rational.
• Documents are matched with strong knowledge of the field.

Joel's note about this approach
​
"Most mornings, around 6 a.m. I brew a pot of coffee at home and read for a predetermined 45 minutes. In the winter, I read next to the living room fire. In the summer, I read outside.

My reading focuses on the law involving wills, trusts, or post death administration of these estate planning approaches. Or, how to write more clearly using a 'plain English' approach.​
​

• I read each morning because all my professional work is dedicated to this one legal area. So, often, my reading is relevant several times, for different clients, in a single week.
• I've experimented and find my concentration is best at this time of day - and 45 minutes optimum for me.
• For about 20 years I've been doing and still thoroughly enjoy it. (But gardening is a close second.)

When I finish reading, I bookmark and go to the office. It's a rare day that I do not learn something I did not know before, and that can be useful. 

​Like a farmer, I get up early - so others don't have to.

But I love the morning and the quiet. And learning on a daily basis. So, come talk about your own estate planning. You will not be disappointed."
     
Joel Bernstein
​Lexington, MA
Updated: October 17, 2019

Contact Us

Call us at (781) 863-8606 or email us at joel@jbernsteinlaw.com. We will contact you and set a date and time to meet to discuss your estate planning. 

Need help? Request a consultation.

20+ Plain English Articles by guest author Vickie Schumacher

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