Arlington Community Education

With both humor and knowledge, two local attorneys and estate planning specialists will address the fundamentals of estate planning.

Essentials: Estate planning is for everyone, not just the wealthy or elderly. Learn how to plan for incapacity with tools like health care proxies, advance directives, and powers of attorney. Discover strategies to avoid probate court and its costs, and understand how trusts can protect assets, reduce taxes, and simplify estate administration. We’ll cover how to reduce capital gains taxes for your heirs, and examine Massachusetts estate tax laws, learning how to minimize this “death tax”—often by as much as $150,000 to $300,000.

Building on the Essentials: Further explore incapacity planning with real-life examples. Learn strategies for transferring your possessions, social media accounts, and other assets. Explore tax planning and charitable giving. Understand the differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts, common trust issues, and how to avoid them. We’ll also discuss thoughtful gifting ideas to make a difference in the lives of your loved ones. (The Essentials class is recommended as a prerequisite, though not required.)

Prepare for Long-Term Care: This class builds on Estate Planning Essentials to address aging and long-term care needs. Explore options for aging in place, finding the right living environment, and managing health care costs. Learn about reverse mortgages, long-term care insurance, pooled trusts, and MassHealth benefits, including ways to stay in your home. We’ll also cover estate planning techniques, such as wills, trusts, and gifting, to protect assets for your heirs. (The Essentials class is recommended as a prerequisite, though not required.)