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personal representative of an estate in Massachusetts

Have You Been Named Personal Representative of an Estate in Massachusetts? A Guide to Your Responsibilities

Being named the personal representative, also known as the executor, of an estate is an important but often overwhelming responsibility. If you have been appointed to oversee the probate of a loved one’s will, you may be unsure where to begin. Executors must navigate complex Massachusetts probate laws, manage estate assets, settle debts, and ensure beneficiaries receive their inheritances. This article provides a step-by-step guide to help executors understand their responsibilities and when to seek legal assistance. What is a Personal Representative? A personal representative, commonly referred to as the executor, is the person designated in a will to handle the estate of a deceased individual. The executor is legally responsible for managing the estate’s affairs, ensuring that the deceased’s debts are paid, and distributing assets according to the will’s instructions. Executors have a fiduciary duty, meaning they must act in the best interests of the estate and its beneficiaries. Steps to Take as

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The Corporate Transparency Act – Injunction Lifted – Businesses Have to Register by March 21, 2025

Back in January, the United States Supreme Court lifted the injunction that had been in place since the end of December 2024. Despite the Supreme Court’s action, a federal district court in Eastern Texas had imposed another injunction so individuals and business owners did not have to register their entities. On February 18, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted the Department of Justice’s request in Smith, et. al. v. U.S. Department of the Treasurer, et al., 6:24-cv00336 (E.D. Tex.) to stay the nationwide injunction under the Corporate Transparency Act. With this new order, once again, individuals and business owners are now required to register their business (i.e., corporation or limited liability company) with FinCEN. NEW DEADLINE FinCEN has announced on its website that the new deadline for all reporting companies to register with FinCEN is March 21, 2025. It is unclear whether this deadline

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The Corporate Transparency Act – The Next Chapter – What You Need to Know Today!

On January 23, 2025, the United States Supreme Court lifted the injunction that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals had put in place on December 26, 2024. While at first blush this would indicate that limited liability companies and corporations are now, once again, required to register with the U.S. Treasury Department’s FinCEN. However, a Federal District Court judge for the Eastern District of Texas had previously issued a nationwide injunction in a separate case and FinCEN recognizes that the injunction in that case is still in place. Currently, individuals and entities are permitted to continue to register with FinCEN but the obligation to register is not. This means that entities are NOT required to register with FinCEN under the law at this time. THE FUTURE This is not the end of this matter. Numerous federal courts will be reviewing the constitutionality of the law itself in the coming weeks

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Social Security Fairness Act – Could Your Family See a Benefit?

As one of his final acts in office, President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law on January 5th 2025. This law repeals two provisions that have reduced social security benefits for certain non-Social Security covered employees by up to 50%. Your family or someone you know could be affected if they are receiving pensions from employment that is not covered by Social Security, which includes teachers, police officers, firefighters and other public servants. The change is expected to increase social security benefits for approximately 2.5 million retirees. The two provisions that have been repealed are the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). People who earned a pension from non-Social Security employment had their Social Security reduced by up to half, while in the case of the GPO, it reduced benefits by two thirds of their pension for those who qualified for spousal or

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The Corporate Transparency Act – The Saga Continues – What you need to know TODAY!

On December 3, 2024, the Federal District Court in Texas issued an injunction making it clear that limited liability companies and corporations were not required to register with the U.S. Treasury Department’s FinCEN. Entities were permitted to continue registering with FinCEN but the injunction raised questions as to the constitutionality of the new federal law and determined that pending further review, the obligation to register could not be mandated. The Department of Justice immediately asked the Court to stay the injunction which the District Court declined to do. The Justice Department filed an appeal with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and on Monday December 23, 2024, the injunction was lifted. This means that entities are required to register with FinCEN under the law. REVISED DEADLINES: FinCEN recognized that the injunction which had been in effect for three weeks impacted many individuals and has decided to extend the deadline by

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