About Joel Bernstein
Massachusetts estate planning, using wills and particularly trusts, has been the sole focus of my practice for 27 years. I am highly experienced, having handling more than 2,700 wills and trusts over my career. I began my law practice in 1980 in Vermont, where I became involved in real estate conveyancing as in-house lawyer for the famed Hawk Mountain Corporation. I computerized their deed system and became nationally known for my automation approach in 1985. Seeing the beauty of the Green Mountain state led me to a lifelong study of all aspects of property law. So after earning an Environmental Law degree in Vermont, I moved to the Boston area in 1985 to marry a woman from Wellesley and earn a Masters of Tax Law. In 1992, I learned about revocable living trusts (the modern approach to estate planning) from the San Diego-based American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. I studied with its founder Robert Armstrong, was appointed a director of the organization—and enjoyed visiting San Diego for its weather! 1992 is also the year that I opened my law firm in Lexington and began giving public talks about Massachusetts revocable living trusts. Also in the 1990s, I served on the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. To this day, I start each morning with a cup of coffee and 45 minutes of reading about the law, focusing on wills, trusts, and the post-death administration of these estate-planning approaches. Through this regular, early-morning study, I’ve avoided trying to master too many areas of the law. I still love to read the law every morning. And I still love my wife. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
MA Wills and Trusts: The only law we practice, in plain English 781/863-8606 • email: joel@JBernsteinlaw.com |