Services
Estate Planning
Key Contacts
Frederick M. Misilo, Jr.Shareholder
key contact
Richard C. Barry, Jr.Shareholder
key contact
Dennis F. GormanShareholder
key contact
Michael T. LahtiShareholder
key contact
For nearly 200 years, Fletcher Tilton attorneys have counseled individuals on how to manage and protect their assets, minimize their tax burden and protect their wealth for their needs and for those of future generations. The group of estate planning attorneys at Fletcher Tilton is one of the most respected in Massachusetts. A member of our team is a contributing author to the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education publication, “Drafting Wills and Trusts in Massachusetts.” We offer experienced counsel to business owners on the use of sophisticated estate planning techniques to accomplish the transition of ownership and control to family members or employees.
- Fletcher Tilton attorneys prepare more than 500 estate plans each year for our clients.
- We administer more than 130 estates annually. Through the lens of this experience, we have the experience to draft estate plans which are well thought-through and easy to administer. We conduct the estate planning process to minimize complications and ensure that our client’s wishes are properly carried out.
Estate planning is a multi-disciplinary effort involving a number of professionals. The estate planning group prepares wills and various forms of trusts to reduce or eliminate federal estate taxes.
Read more about Estate Planning
Read more about Estate Planning
Central to many estate plans is a program of gifting assets from one generation to the next.
Read more about Family Transfer Planning
Read more about Family Transfer Planning
We counsel business owners on the use of sophisticated estate planning techniques to accomplish the transition of ownership
Read more about Business Succession Planning
Read more about Business Succession Planning
The firm operates one of the region’s largest tax departments including tax attorneys, CPAs and accountants on staff who prepare approximately 750 tax returns annually.
Read more about Tax Planning
Read more about Tax Planning
Estate Planning Resource Library
- "Foreign Grantor Trusts": Non-US Persons Can Provide for Children Living in the US While Avoiding US Gift, Estate and Income Tax
- Client Testimonials for Estate Planning Attorney Michael T. Lahti
- The Importance of Incorporating Beneficiary Designations into an Estate Plan
- Documents Your Child Should Sign Before Leaving for College
- Protecting Your Second Residence from Long-Term Care Costs
- The Benefits of a Revocable Living Trust
- Glossary of Estate Planning Terms
- Estate Executors and Beneficiaries Can Be Held Personally Liable for Unpaid Taxes
- Qualified Charitable Distribution from Your IRA May Save You Taxes, Reduce Your Medicare Payment and Leave a Legacy to Your Favorite Charity
- Message from the Practice Group Leader - January 2022
- Legacy Newsletter - Volume 21, Issue 1
- How Can a "Village" Help You?
- The Massachusetts Nominee (or "Realty" Trust) Perhaps a New Tool to Protect One's House
- Understanding the Conservatorship of Britney Spears and Less Restrictive Alternatives
- Who Needs An Estate Plan?
- Massachusetts Estate Tax Versus the Capital Gains Tax (To Gift or Not To Gift)
- Estate Planning After Divorce
- Why You Should Have An Estate Plan
- Does It Matter Who I Choose For My Trustee?
- Guardianship and Alternatives
- Virtual Estate Planning in Massachusetts During COVID-19
- When Worlds Collide - The Intersection of Traditional Estate Planning With the Protection of Assets From Nursing Home Costs
- Protecting Your Assets
- The Importance of a Healthcare Proxy in Times of Crisis
- The SECURE Act - How It Impacts Your Retirement Planning. What You Need To Know In a Nutshell
- State Taxation of Trust Income - Supreme Court Rejects Aggressive Approach in Kaestner Decision
- Worried About Losing Your Home to the Costs of Long-Term Care?
- 21st Century Estate Planning - It's Not As Easy As You Think
- Has Your Estate Plan Kept Up With Your Life?
- Incorporating Pets in an Estate Plan
- Integrating Futures Planning, Estate Planning and Legal Protections for Persons with Disabilities: A Primer
- Supplemental Security Income: Top Ten "Must Know" Issues
- The Importance of Collaboration Between Your Professional
- Thinking Beyond Special Needs Trusts
- Estate Planning for the Adult Child Who Acts Out, Has Addictions, or Is Otherwise Challenged
- Periodic Reviews of Trust Life Insurance: Why They Are Necessary
- Trusts & Divorce: The Supreme Judicial Court Provides Clarity
- Higher Estate and Gift Exemption Can Reduce Estate Taxes
- Just for the Wealthy? Rethinking the Trust Fund
- Why Do I Need a Power of Attorney?
- Choosing a Trustee: Factors to Consider
- Gifting to Minors: Year-End Options
- Liability Protection in 2019
- Proper Titling of Estate-Plan Assets
- Trusts Are an Integral Part of Most Estate Plans
- Legal Issues at the Intersection of Estate Planning and Elder Law