Massachusetts Estate Planning Resources
Free education resources
Educational materials only - Not legal advice
Important: Joel Bernstein is a member of the Massachusetts Bar but does not practice law day to day. These materials provide educational information only, not legal advice. Nothing here creates an attorney client relationship. Consult a licensed attorney for advice about your specific situation.
Welcome
I learned something from thirty years practicing estate planning law. Most families benefit more from education than from immediate expensive legal consultations. They need to understand basic concepts first.
I retired from day to day practice in early 2025 after forty five years as an attorney. I still maintain my Bar membership but now focus on education. I don't provide legal advice or services anymore.
These materials share general information I learned during decades of practice. No legal jargon. No legal advice. Just educational content that helps you ask better questions when you meet with your own attorney.
I spent my career reading estate planning materials every morning at six for exactly one hour. That daily habit kept me current. Now I share that accumulated knowledge through educational resources instead of individual client work.
Three Free Resources
Pick what fits your current needs
Free Estate Planning Course
A three day email course teaches general estate planning concepts. You learn common approaches without legal jargon. You discover typical mistakes families make.
I wrote this course in plain English based on thirty two years of practice. Each lesson takes under five minutes to read. The information helps you have better conversations with attorneys.
Day One covers general trust and will concepts that Massachusetts families often encounter.
Day Two explains common probate court processes and typical delays families face.
Day Three teaches general information about Massachusetts tax thresholds.
Educational Monographs
Detailed guides explain specific estate planning topics. Each monograph covers one subject with fifteen to twenty five pages of educational content. These materials reflect patterns I observed during three decades of Massachusetts practice.
Every monograph shares general concepts through illustrative examples. You get educational frameworks that help organize your thinking before meeting with your attorney.
Educational overviews explain complex topics like differences between trusts and wills.
General Massachusetts information includes typical tax considerations and common legal requirements.
Discussion guides help you prepare questions for your attorney consultations.
Why These Resources Exist
I saw the same mistakes over and over during thirty years practicing law. Smart families made costly errors because they didn't understand basic concepts. Loving families ended up in probate court fights over problems that education could have prevented.
After retiring from day to day practice in early 2025, I couldn't walk away completely. Too many families still need basic education before spending thousands on legal fees. So I created these educational resources and attorney connections.
Every morning for over twenty years, I woke at six and read estate planning materials for exactly one hour. My wife thought I was slightly crazy. But that daily ritual kept me current on constantly changing laws.
These resources exist because families deserve clear educational information. You should understand basic concepts before making expensive legal decisions. That's what I offer here as education, not as legal advice or services.
Joel Bernstein does not provide legal or tax advice. This information is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Any tax related information discussed here is based on tax laws, regulations, or other guidance that are complex and subject to change.
The current federal estate tax exemption is fifteen million dollars per person. The annual gift tax exclusion is nineteen thousand dollars per person. Additional tax rules not discussed here may be applicable to your situation.
We recommend that you consult a qualified tax advisor or legal advisor about your individual situation. All examples and scenarios presented on this website are fictional but based on common patterns observed in estate planning practice.
This website provides general information about Massachusetts estate planning and is not legal advice for your specific situation. For advice about your particular circumstances, consult with a qualified Massachusetts estate planning attorney.