Will Attorney in Massachusetts

Without a valid will, Massachusetts law decides who inherits your property and, if both parents die, who cares for your children. Jordan & White is an estate planning law firm whose team of will attorneys helps Massachusetts families make those decisions themselves and put them in a document that holds up in probate.

What Happens to Your Property and Your Children Without a Will in Massachusetts

Many Massachusetts residents put off a will because the process sounds complicated or expensive. The decisions it covers, though, do not wait. Here is what is at stake without one.

Massachusetts Law Decides Who Inherits Your Property

If you die without a will, Massachusetts decides who gets your property. The rule is called intestacy, and it follows your family tree, not your wishes. If you are married with children, your spouse may have to share your estate with them. If you are married without children, your parents may inherit part of it alongside your spouse. Neither split reflects what you actually wanted. The rules are set out in Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 190B, § 2-102 and also apply when probate happens without a will.

A Judge Decides Who Raises Your Children

If both parents die, or no parent is able to care for your children, a judge chooses their guardian. That judge does not know your family and has no record of who you trust. You can put your choice in writing by naming a guardian in your will or in another signed, witnessed document, as Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 190B, § 5-202 allows.

Your Family Is Left to Guess What You Wanted

Who gets the house? Who handles the estate? Who keeps the things that mean the most? When nothing is written down, relatives are left to guess, and they do not always guess the same way. A clear will names your beneficiaries and your executor, so your family has your answers instead of their assumptions.

A will attorney removes each of these risks, and that is the work Jordan & White does for Massachusetts families.

How Jordan & White’s Will Attorneys in Massachusetts Protect Your Family

Jordan & White turns your decisions into a will that is signed the way Massachusetts requires.

A Will Written Around Your Family

Your will says who receives your property and who serves as executor to manage your estate. Jordan & White starts with your family and what you own, so the will reflects your situation and not a template.

A Health Care Proxy and Living Will With Your Will

A health care proxy names the person who makes medical decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself. A living will records your treatment wishes so that person and your care team know what you want. Preparing both with your will covers your health as well as your property.

A Guardian Named for Your Children

If you have children under 18, your will can name the person you want to raise them. That tells the court who you trust, so the decision does not start from nothing.

Signing Done Correctly

Jordan & White schedules your signing and coordinates the witnesses Massachusetts requires. If you want a self-proving affidavit, the firm arranges the notary. It is optional, but it can make probate simpler.

How Jordan & White Prepares Your Will

The process is simple, and you know what comes next at every step.

1. Free consultation. You describe your family, your property, and what you want to happen. Jordan & White asks questions you may not have thought of, such as who should serve as executor and who should be named if your first choice cannot.
2. Drafting. Jordan & White prepares your will and any companion documents, such as a health care proxy, based on what you decided in the consultation.
3. Review. We’ll walk you through each provision so you know what it does. If something does not match what you want, it is changed before you sign.
4. Signing. Witnesses and, if you choose, a notary are coordinated for a single appointment, so you do not have to find witnesses yourself.
5. Organized documents. You leave with a complete, properly executed set of documents and an explanation of what each one does.
6. Updates over time. A will reflects your life on the day you sign it. A new child, a marriage, a divorce, or a move are good reasons to review it.

What to Bring to Your Consultation

You do not need paperwork to get started. It helps to think through a few things beforehand:

• Who you want to receive your property, and who should receive it if they cannot.
• Who you trust to serve as your executor.
• Who you would want to raise your children, if you have children under 18.
• Who you would want to make medical decisions for you.
• A general list of what you own, including your home, accounts, and anything with a named beneficiary.

Fees are fixed and disclosed before you commit, so you know the cost before you begin.

Why Massachusetts Families Choose Jordan & White

Jordan & White is a Massachusetts estate planning law firm in Danvers, led by managing attorney Jonathan M. White. The firm helps families with wills, trusts, guardianship, and health care proxies, and it also handles probate and estate administration when someone dies.

Advice Shaped by Real Family Experience

Jonathan White has been on the family side of this work, including settling his grandparents’ estate. He built the practice around what clients are actually going through, not just what the law requires.

From Planning Through Probate

Because Jordan & White also helps families after a death through estate administration, the firm knows what your executor will face. That shapes how your will is written and who you name to carry it out.

Fixed Fees and a Free First Conversation

Estate planning at Jordan & White has fixed fees, quoted before you commit, with no hourly billing. Your first conversation is free, so you can ask questions and see what a will involves before you decide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why hire a will attorney in Massachusetts instead of using an online template?

Massachusetts has specific execution requirements that online forms do not reliably explain. A will that is not signed and witnessed correctly can be invalidated at probate, and the state then distributes your assets under intestacy rules. A will attorney at Jordan & White helps make sure your will meets those requirements from the day it is signed.

What happens in Massachusetts if I die without a will?

Intestacy law determines who receives your probate property based on your family structure, not your preferences. A surviving spouse may share the estate with your parents or children. If no parent can care for your minor children, a court appoints their guardian.

Does my will have to be notarized in Massachusetts?

No. A valid will needs a writing, your signature, and two witness signatures. A notarized self-proving affidavit is optional, but it can let the probate court accept the will without live witness testimony.

Can a living will attorney help me prepare for medical decisions?

Yes. Jordan & White prepares a healthcare proxy, which names your decision-maker, and a living will, which records your wishes to guide that person. Both can be prepared with your will in one engagement.

Schedule a Consultation With Jordan & White to Put Your Plan in Writing

A will protects the people who depend on you, and it takes less time than most people expect. Schedule a consultation with Jordan & White or call (978) 744-2811 to talk with a will attorney in Massachusetts. Your first conversation is free.