Posts by Jonathan White
When Estate Planning and Real Estate Collide
A revocable living trust can be a great way to handle real estate and keep it out of probate when you pass. However, there are a few key steps you need to take after creating the trust and many estate planning attorneys miss one critical step. You will need a deed transferring the property into…
Read MoreWhat Happens to Your Digital Assets When You Pass Away?
You may be familiar with estate planning or the process of planning what will happen with your finances, real estate, retirement plans, and other assets after you pass away. However, did you know that modern end-of-life planning extends to digital estate planning? This includes your email and social media accounts, subscriptions, electronic files, and virtually all your…
Read MoreSelling Real Estate from an Estate
If you decide to sell a home owned by an estate still in probate, you need to be careful to follow the rules so the transaction will be valid. Generally, the estate must go through formal probate rather than the informal process. The personal representative will usually need to petition the court for a license…
Read MoreDon’t Lose the Value of Your Title Insurance – Get the Right Endorsement After Creating a Trust
Because I work extensively with both real estate law and estate planning, I see one common mistake people make that can cause trouble in the future. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix. Real estate owners often purchase title insurance to protect themselves and their heirs if somebody later challenges the validity of their title to the…
Read MoreHow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Accepting Title Opinion Will Work in MA
If you’re contemplating a real estate sale in Massachusetts, you may have heard that title insurance requirements are changing. Federally-backed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have announced that lenders are allowed to accept attorney opinions in place of title insurance in many real estate transactions. That option could save you money on closing…
Read MoreVirtual Notary Bills Are Making Headway
The “new normal” procedures established during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic brought lasting changes in some industries while in others, the old ways have gradually returned. In still other situations, interim changes continue to be extended while decisionmakers debate the pros and cons of making temporary accommodations permanent. Notary services in Massachusetts fall…
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