Posts by Jonathan White
Selling 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 MoreWhat Should I Do With My Deed After My Spouse Dies?
Your real estate deed will not be the first thing that springs to mind after your spouse passes away. Eventually, however, it occurs to many people that have lost a spouse that they may need to do something to change the deed on their property to reflect the passing of an owner. While there are…
Read MoreWhat are the Essential Documents for a Good Estate Plan?
A good estate plan protects you, your people, and your stuff. So which documents do you need to do that? Healthcare protection documents. You should have a Health Care Proxy that authorizes a family member or friend to make medical decisions if an illness or injury renders you incapable of making or communicating your own…
Read MoreWhat Do You Do with the Deed to Your House After Divorce?
The divorce decree incorporates terms that affect your financial affairs, but you often need to take specific steps to make the right things happen. This is particularly true when it comes to any real estate you own jointly with your former spouse. Even when the property is awarded to one partner, the other partner’s name…
Read MoreIf I Don’t Have a Will, Does Massachusetts Get My Money?
When someone dies without a will, they lose the ability to determine who will get their property and who will handle their affairs. Can they also lose all their property to the government? Many of us have heard stories about property ownership passing to the government through an ancient common law practice known as escheat.…
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…
Read MoreHappy Holidays from Jordan & White, LLC!
My family has gone to the Holiday Pops for years. I can remember going with my parents while Kerry and I were still dating because it was such a treat for us then. We got to get dressed up, go to Boston Symphony Hall, and then out to dinner at the Oak Room. We changed…
Read MoreMany People May Need to Plan for the Massachusetts Millionaire’s Tax
The new “Massachusetts Millionaire’s Tax” is expected to regularly impact less than 1% of households in the state—but many more families will take an extra tax hit when they go through events such as the sale of a home, transfer of a business, or conversion of a retirement account. People who did not think this…
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