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You're invited to a FREE seminar:
MA Wills and Trusts in Plain English
When:  Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019 
​Two sessions: 11 am - OR - 2 pm

Reserve seats today. Limited seating, will fill up. Your information will not be sold or shared.

Location  
Lexington Historical Society
13 Depot Square, Lexington MA

• Free Parking behind bldg.
• Free admission but reservations needed
• Free light refreshments

Google - 5.0 rating
​27 Reviews

Read All Reviews

Call for appointment 781 863-8606

Clients review us here

​Welcome to MA Wills and Trusts
Estate planning by Joel Bernstein

​​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. These are:

Single focus: First, they appreciate his single focus for over 27 years; not distracted by several legal areas. Other websites quickly reveal this common weakness of many attorneys. 
​
​Plain English: Second, they like his strong interest for the plain English approach to documents, letters, and speaking style.  While the complex legal area sometimes requires some dense language, he works hard to minimize it.

Our approach brings together:

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

• advanced Tax Law degree from Boston University; 
• daily (6 a.m.) reading in both this single area of law and plain English (for 20+ years.)

​​Clients tell us they like this approach to estate planning. It is:

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

Continued contact. In addition, 2x annually for 26 years the firm has sent written communication to alert clients about considerations in their lives that may call for updated updated planning.

• By now we've seen that life gives us a stream of good and bad events, both voluntary and involuntary.
• Unlike other firms that never communicate after documents are signed, clients appreciate our effort that doesn't stop when you walk out the door.

Investment in our approach benefits client. Over the last 27 years, as he's sharpened both his knowledge and communication skills, he's become an unique Boston area estate planning attorney.

Who likes the approach. People who like his  approach want to get it done promptly, correctly, and better understand the process and the end result.

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.

​"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 

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

Abit more of humor

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

My general 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:

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

Background of approach
​
"Most mornings, around 6 a.m. I brew a pot of coffee at home and read for a timed 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 find my concentration and understanding is best at this time of day, and 45 minutes optimum for me.
• I read each morning because all my professional work is dedicated to this one area of law. So my reading is relevant often several times in a single week.
• I've been doing this for about 20 years, and still thoroughly enjoy it. (But gardening is a close second.)

When finished reading, I bookmark and go to the office. I know my reading will 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: July 7, 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. 

Would you like a quick overview?
​​Click on the video below and  see Joel on public TV.

Public TV Interview of Joel Bernstein

From the TV interview on Lexington cable, August 2016. Discussing:

• the basics of wills and trusts
• how he works with clients
• the importance of keeping your estate planning up-to-date

Need help? Request a consultation.

20+ Plain English Articles by guest author Vickie Schumacher

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