North Easton Heritage Planning and Elderly Law Attorneys Brigitte von Weiss Bring Master of Taxation Background to Families in Massachusetts

For nearly 30 years, VON WEISS LAW OFFICE has been providing Massachusetts families with guidance on estate planning, estate and trust management, as well as MassHealth planning.

North Easton, Massachusetts, September 29th / PRNewswire / -- Von Weiss Law Office The founder, Brigitte, von, and Weiss, is a lawyer specializing in estate planning and elder law. She holds both a law degree and a Master of Science in Taxation. She opened her practice in North Easton in 1997 and will celebrate 30 years of practice next year.

Why a Master's Degree in Taxation is Important in Estate Planning

Graduated from the Law School of Loyola University of Chicago with excellent grades. After starting her own practice, she spent another approximately three years pursuing a degree part-time and obtained a Master of Science in Taxation from Bentley College with outstanding results. The reason she decided to pursue this degree is that a large portion of her business is related to taxation.

Her work is roughly divided into three categories: estate planning, estate and trust management, and MassHealth planning for nursing homes or community care. Each category involves tax issues, such as whether clients are subject to the Massachusetts estate tax, and how to reduce such tax burdens.

In Massachusetts, gifting assets in one's later years can reduce the burden of estate taxes, but such gifts may also result in the recipient having to pay higher capital gains taxes. von Weiss recalls that about 10 years ago, she dealt with a client whose rental property in Canton was worth over $1 million, and the estate tax threshold in Massachusetts was also $1 million at that time. This client asked whether she should transfer the property to her daughter before passing away. von Weiss and her accountant advised against it, as the daughter would inherit her father's tax base and would have to pay higher capital gains taxes when selling the property; however, if she acquired the property through inheritance, she could get an increase in her tax base. She said that the interplay between estate taxes and capital gains taxes is one of her favorite aspects of her work.

How does nursing background affect customer service?

von Weiss Graduated from the School of Nursing at Boston College and worked as a nurse for four years, including a period at the Intensive Care Unit at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Reading Supreme Court rulings while taking a course in family law at nursing school sparked her interest in law for the first time.

During her time working in the intensive care unit, she learned to explain instructions clearly and to observe whether patients truly understood them, a skill that is often mentioned by clients in their evaluations. Approximately 10% of her clients come to her during times of crisis, such as after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease; her ICU experience has helped her guide these clients through difficult times. For more information on how her nursing background supports her work in elder law and estate planning, please refer to the original text.

Common Mistakes in Estate Planning

Among the common mistakes in estate planning that are often seen, the most prevalent one is underestimating the importance of basic documents: wills, powers of attorney, and medical proxies. These documents are not expensive, but their absence can come at a high cost. Without a will, there is no one designated to handle affairs, which can lead to disputes and increase the need for probate court proceedings. Without a power of attorney, if a family member loses mental capacity, the family may have to go through the costly process of applying for guardianship.

Based on her experience, state governments have largely stopped questioning the irrevocable trusts used to protect family homes from the costs of nursing homes, so such arrangements are now a good option.

What to prepare for the first meeting

von Weiss Requires new clients to provide a detailed list of their assets. This list helps determine which strategies are feasible, such as asset protection, avoiding probate, or reducing estate taxes in Massachusetts through gift planning. She also checks the beneficiary arrangements for each asset except real estate, as many clients designate their spouses as beneficiaries but do not include their children as potential beneficiaries.

Regarding VON WEISS LAW OFFICE

VON WEISS LAW OFFICE is an estate planning and elder law firm located in North Easton, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1997 by attorneys Brigitte, von, and Weiss. The founder holds a Master of Science in Taxation. The firm provides estate planning, trusts, powers of attorney, medical proxies, will certification, and MassHealth planning services to clients including Easton, Brockton, Canton, Mansfield, Sharon, Stoughton, and the surrounding communities. For more information, please visit vonweisslaw.com.

Media Contact

VON WEISS LAW OFFICE Brigitte von Weiss , Attorney 50 Oliver Street , North Easton , MA 02356

SOURCE Von Weiss Law Office