The IRS recently announced the inflation adjusted figures for gift and estate tax exemption amounts for 2016 as well as other related tax numbers. End of year tax planning is a good time to review your overall estate and income tax plan to make certain you are on the right track. Whether you are deferring […]

Planning for how your assets will be distributed and passed on after death is difficult enough without having to worry about how your online assets will be transferred. The world we live in today is constantly evolving, with more and more people relying on the Internet in their daily lives. What people don’t often think

We get the question all the time, what about these online “do it yourself” estate planning websites? Seems enticing right? Our answer is always simple…they breed mistakes! These generic online documents are designed for a “one-size-fits-all” scenario, however, we all know every situation is unique. We recently came across an example of a gentleman in

There are at least three certainties in life: death, taxes and change. As we age and experience change, or laws change, it’s critical to reevaluate our plans for the future and where our loved ones or our goals (old and new) fit into them. This begs the question: when was the last time you took

Attorney Charles “Chris” Bratton recently earned a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in Estate Planning and Elder Law from Western New England University School of Law. The LL.M designation is an internationally recognized postgraduate law degree, indicating advanced legal training; in this case in Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Taxation. “Any attorney whose practice includes

We are one month away from National Healthcare Decisions Day! National Healthcare Decisions Day exists to educate the public & medical providers about the importance of planning as it relates to health care decision making. It encourages people to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes. Please join

Do You Need a Lawyer to Help You Apply for Medicaid? The reality in the United States is this: a sizable percentage of people will eventually need some form of long term care. The cost of nursing home care is, at times, out of reach financially for anyone but those with a substantial nest egg.

What Does an Estate Planning Attorney Do that Internet Software Companies Don’t Do? It’s a good question.  You see the advertisements for companies like Legal Zoom on television, you see form books at Barnes and Noble or the library, and if you’re like most people, you wonder, “What does an estate planning attorney do that a form doesn’t do?” WebMD.com

Please join Charles C. Bratton, Esq. of Bratton Law Group Attorneys Office and his colleagues at WealthCounsel in a public relations campaign to showcase National Estate Planning Awareness Week, October 20-26, 2014. Bratton Law Group’s goal is to alert and educate the public to establish and keep their estate plans up to date. In 2008,