Evaluate, collaborate and support for estate planning
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While not beautiful like a vase of flowers, art, or music, with focus and a strong edit we can make legal documents dramatically easier to read.  Almost beautiful.

Why bother? Attractiveness and clarity invites reading, and reading leads to understanding. If you, and your family after you, can make their way through the documents, 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.
Joel Bernstein

Call for appointment 781 863-8606

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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:
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• 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 diluted knowledge and systems not optimized for wills and trusts.
• 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.

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

Continued contact   After the estate planning documents are signed, for 26 years we've written to clients twice annually. 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 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 tool for both document creation and continued client education and contact. We've honed this concept since then.

Investment in our approach benefits client  During the past four decades, as he's sharpened both his knowledge and communication skills, he's become an unique Boston area estate planning attorney.

​People routinely comment that they have never had the experience that the office provides on a daily basis, with little knowledge when they walked in the door.

Whom likes the approach   People who like this approach and become highly satisfied long-term clients want:​
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• 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 any of ​these estate planning issues

The Four major goals of estate planning (when you don't know where to start)

When we meet (cost, etc.)

Naming a Child's Guardian (Just in Case)

Beneficiary with an issue?
​Your choices:
- Ignore problem
​- Leave zero
- Leave share in trust

If Estate Over $1 Million, Consider Estate Tax Steps

Plain English Living Trust - Background

How Often Do Experts Suggest Review of Will or Trust?

What a Durable Power of Attorney Can Do For You

MA Health Care Proxy Basics

After a Death 

Married to Non-U.S. citizen?

​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​

​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:
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• 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
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"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.​
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• 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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