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Estate Planning Law Firm in Boston

About Jillise McDonough Estate Planning Law Firm

Estate planning is an area of law that can feel uniquely personal. That’s why the team at our Boston estate planning law firm will take the time to get to know you and your goals for passing on your wealth to the next generation. 

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all estate planning. Your story is unique, and your estate plan should be, too.

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How we can help

Our Practice Areas

We aim to create a comprehensive, supportive estate planning experience for each of our clients. If you’re looking to build your legacy, you might be interested in one or more of these services: Durable Power of Attorney, Estate Tax Planning, Gift Tax Planning, Special Needs Planning, Wealth Transfer Planning, Financial Power of Attorney.

Here’s a closer look at how each one may fit your trust and estate planning goals:

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Durable Power of Attorney

Regardless of the size of your estate, a durable power of attorney (POA) document is an indispensable part of your estate plan.

Your POA allows your personal representatives to manage your affairs on your behalf if you become incapacitated.

Your POA can be as broad or as narrow in scope as you wish. Our trust and estate lawyers can craft a customized power of attorney to suit your individual needs.

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Estate Tax

If you have a significant estate, a portion of your assets may be used to pay federal and Massachusetts estate taxes. The Massachusetts gift and estate tax exemption is significantly lower than the federal exemption. Estates valued at over $2 million will incur a state-level estate tax.
Some of our clients in the greater Boston area opt to use charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) to pass assets to qualified tax-exempt organizations. Irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs) are another common choice. And irrevocable trusts are also valuable tools when it comes to reducing the value of your taxable estate (and therefore minimizing any estate tax you may owe).

Our team stays abreast of federal and Massachusetts tax law, and we can help you select estate tax planning tools that keep more of your wealth in your family.

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Gift Tax

At the state and federal levels, gifts aren’t taxed when they’re given. However, gifts that exceed the annual exclusion amount ($19,000 as of 2026) count toward your lifetime gift and estate tax exemption.

To minimize estate tax burdens at the state and federal levels, our attorneys may be able to help you craft a gifting strategy to reduce your taxable estate.

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Special Needs Planning

If one or more of your beneficiaries has special needs, planning for their future can be complex.

A special needs trust allows you to support your loved ones without jeopardizing their eligibility for benefits. Our attorneys can help you select trustees, create your trust, and administer your trust.

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Wealth-Transfer Planning

Many clients want to maximize the wealth they transfer from one generation to the next. Our team can use a variety of tools and strategies to help you preserve and transfer your wealth, including:
– Asset protection planning
– Family limited partnerships (FLPs)
– Limited liability companies (LLCs)
– Prenuptial agreements
– Premarital agreements

If you want to pass on a family business, we can also assist with business succession planning.

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Financial Power of Attorney

If you have a medical emergency or otherwise become unable to manage your bills, taxes, and businesses, you need someone you trust to step in right away. Our team can help you create a durable power of attorney for your finances.

Understanding Estate Planning

Estate planning isn’t just about which person will inherit your assets after your death; it’s about finding the peace and clarity that come with knowing your loved ones will be supported. The estate planning process can be emotionally and logistically difficult, but our team will be by your side from the first step. If you’re looking for an estate planning attorney in Boston, these are some of the ways our firm may be able to help you.

What is estate planning? Estate planning is the process of outlining how you want your assets to be handled after your death. It may involve strategic tax planning to preserve wealth, making decisions about asset distribution, and creating powers of attorney to nominate trusted people to handle your affairs if you are unable to.

The Role of Estate Planning Documents

When you turn to our team for estate planning services in Boston, we’ll help to draft legal documents to support your goals. These are some common types of estate planning documents:

  • Will: Covers asset distribution and serves as a map of your estate plan
  • Trust: Creates a legal entity to hold property (and enables it to bypass probate)
  • Power of Attorney: Nominates a trusted person to act on your behalf when you’re unable to
  • Health Care Proxy: Appoints someone to make medical decisions for you when you cannot

These are just a few of the documents that we can help you create. Depending on your situation, you may include some or all of these documents in your estate plan, along with others.

The Benefits of Hiring an Estate Planning Attorney

As you’re planning your legacy, it’s always wise to have legal help. These are some of the main advantages of hiring an estate planning attorney in Boston:

You’ll Benefit From Advice and Guidance

Many clients aren’t sure which types of estate planning documents they need. This is particularly true if they have complex estates. Our experienced estate planning attorneys know how to assess your situation so they can help to craft a customized strategy to reach your goals.

Your Documents Will Be Professionally Drafted

While it might be tempting to turn to estate planning templates online, this is generally not a good idea. These templates often include broad, vague language so they can be used in all states. However, that language is often so unclear that it leads to disputes over what the deceased person really meant.

Our experienced Boston estate planning lawyers can draft your documents with precision, accounting for specific laws that apply to your state, to reduce the risk of major misunderstandings.

You’ll Know How and When to Update Your Documents

Estate planning is not a one-and-done endeavor. As your circumstances change, you may need to update your documents. Your attorney can give you advice on when to do this, and we’ll work with you to make sure the updated documents reflect your new situation.

You’ll Have an Asset Protection Strategy

One of the most common mistakes individuals make in estate planning is failing to account for taxes and creditors. Estate planning lawyers understand how to use trusts and other tools to shield your assets and preserve more of your wealth for your loved ones.

Why Choose Our Estate Planning Lawyers?

Unless you’re an estate planning attorney, estate planning laws in Boston can be extremely difficult to understand. That’s why you need a boutique law firm with extensive estate planning experience.

The Jillise McDonough Estate Planning Law Firm can help you create an effective estate plan. We also have experience representing clients in probate and trust litigation. We offer a full range of services, including succession planning, asset protection, and estate administration.

Our team is deeply familiar with the most complicated aspects of estate planning laws, and we treat each client’s situation with the care and sensitivity it deserves.

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Contact Us

If you’re searching for an estate planning attorney in Boston, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Whether you’re updating an existing estate plan or creating one for the first time, thinking about your own mortality is never comfortable.

No estate planning lawyer can completely erase that discomfort. However, when you partner with the Jillise McDonough Estate Planning Law Firm, our team will help you have all of the support you need.

Are you ready to get started? Call us or get in touch online to see how we can meet your estate planning needs and help you secure your family’s future.

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Contact Us

Our accomplished Boston-based lawyers can help you tend to all of your estate planning needs, regardless of how big or small. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a qualified attorney.

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Phone Number

(123) 456-7891