South Shore Massachusetts Estate Planning Attorneys

Proudly Serving The South Shore Since 1938

Since 1938, our law firm has been a trusted name in estate planning for individuals and families throughout the South Shore of Massachusetts and Greater Boston Area. With over 80 years of experience, we’ve earned a reputation for excellence, consistently being voted the top law firm in the South Shore by the Patriot Ledger. Most recently, Lane, Lane & Kelly, LLP was named as the top law firm in the 2026 South Shore Community Choice Awards, and Attorney, Matthew B. Lane, was named as the top Attorney in the 2026 South Shore Community Choice Awards. We are able to blend the advantage of being close to a large city with the immediacy that only a local firm can offer. We are conveniently located in South Braintree Square, within minutes of Route 3 and Route 128, at 836 Washington Street, Braintree, Massachusetts 02184.

Our commitment to protecting your legacy and providing peace of mind is at the heart of everything we do. Whether you're planning for the future, ensuring your health care preferences are followed, or safeguarding your family’s financial well-being, we are here to guide you every step of the way.

Our attorneys recognize that not every client is able to make it to our office in order to formally execute their estate planning documents due to unforeseen circumstances. But not to worry, our team makes it easy! We will come to you, if necessary, to ensure your estate plan is formally signed and properly executed under Massachusetts Law. Whether that be your home, the hospital, or your place of business, our team strives to make the entire estate planning process as easy and straightforward as possible.

Lane, Lane & Kelly, LLP | Braintree Estate Planning Attorney

We offer a full range of trust and estate services to our clients to preserve their wealth and to enable them to pass assets to their families and other beneficiaries in the most appropriate and tax-effective manner. There are many different methods used for estate planning, ranging from a basic will to a living trust to a family limited liability company. We work with you to provide thoughtful and comprehensive advice. Estate planning is not just for the elderly. Safeguarding the financial safety and protection of your family is an important goal that we all seek. You will determine who will take care of your affairs if you are incapacitated, who will care for your minor children, who will receive your assets upon your death, and how/when they will receive those assets if something happens to you. These are all basic questions that we address with you in the planning process.

Our team has extensive experience in creating comprehensive estate plans for all family situations, including: Revocable Trust packages to avoid probate court and streamline the distribution of your wealth, estate-tax savings strategies for families with assets over the Massachusetts exemption amount, MassHealth and long-term care planning through Irrevocable Trust packages to protect your home from future estate recovery liens, QTIP trust planning for blended families and second-marriages, Trust and education planning for minor children, as well as simple Wills to carry out your wishes rather than leaving your estate to Massachusetts Intestacy laws. Regardless of your situation, our team can help you with the creation of plan that fits your exact needs, providing the thoroughness and thoughtfulness that you and your family deserve.

Estate Planning Services Tailored to Your Needs

At our firm, we offer a wide range of estate planning services designed to meet your unique needs. Our team recognizes that estate planning is never a one-size-fits-all solution and every client has different needs, wishes, and family situations. Our experienced attorneys work closely with you to develop comprehensive plans that ensure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected. We offer a completely free, no-commitment consultation to meet with our attorneys and staff to review your current affairs, and answer any questions that you have. We prepare the following key estate planning documents among others:

Last Will & Testament

A Last Will & Testament (Will) is the cornerstone of any estate plan. It allows you to dictate how your assets will be distributed after your death and can name guardians for your minor children. It also allows you to name a Personal Representative, who will be responsible for carrying out the terms of your Will. Creating a Will ensures that your estate does not pass through the laws of Massachusetts Intestacy, and gives you full control of how your assets will be conveyed after you pass. Our attorneys will help you craft a will that reflects your exact wishes and avoids any future legal complications.

Revocable Trusts

A revocable trust is a flexible estate planning tool that can help you manage your assets during your lifetime and simplify the process of transferring those assets to your beneficiaries. It also helps avoid the probate court and the entire probate process, which can be timely and costly. By avoiding probate, a trust also protects your privacy, ensuring your estate remains private and out of the public record. Revocable trusts allow you to retain full control over your trust property during your lifetime, granting you the ability to make changes to any named beneficiaries or amend any terms of the trust, or as the name implies, giving you the option to "revoke" the entire trust for any reason at all.

Irrevocable Trusts

If you're looking for more advanced estate planning tool, an irrevocable trust can help protect your assets from creditors, reduce estate taxes, and ensure that your assets are managed according to your wishes. In Massachusetts these types of trusts are frequently used to protect your home and assets from a Medicaid (MassHealth) lien. Irrevocable trusts take meticulous planning and consideration, however, because once established, this type of trust cannot be modified, amended, or revoked. Which in turn offers a higher level of asset protection.

Credit Shelter (Bypass) Trusts

Massachusetts has its own state-level estate tax. The current exemption amount is set at $2 Million Dollars. This means that if you pass away and have assets that exceed this exemption amount, then your estate will owe taxes to the Commonwealth. Through the use of proactive planning, our team can create credit shelter trusts for you and your spouse with the goal of reducing, or potentially even eliminating any estate tax that would otherwise be due if you failed to plan. You've worked hard for your assets. Through proper planning, you can ensure that you maximize the amount that your children or other beneficiaries receive, rather than leaving your hard-earned money to the Commonwealth.

For a full breakdown outlining the differences between a Will and a Trust, along with the Pros and Cons of the different types of Trusts, please read our full legal blog post here.

Durable Power of Attorney

A durable power of attorney allows you to appoint someone you trust to manage your financial and legal affairs if you become incapacitated. This document grants your Attorney-in-fact the power to do things like pay bills, transfer assets, open or close bank accounts. This document ensures that someone you trust has the ability to smoothly handle all of your financial matters should you have an accident and become incapacitated, without the need for a court-appointed guardian.

Health Care Proxy

A health care proxy enables you to appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you're unable to do so. By designating a trusted individual to act as your proxy, you can ensure that your health care preferences are respected, even when you're not able to communicate them yourself.

Why Choose Lane, Lane & Kelly, LLP?

Over 85 Years of Excellence: Our firm has been proudly serving the South Shore and Greater Boston Area since 1938, offering trusted estate planning services for generations.
Award-Winning Service: We are consistently recognized as the top law firm in the South Shore by the Patriot Ledger Community Choice Awards, a testament to the trust and satisfaction of our clients. Most recently, Lane, Lane & Kelly, LLP was named as the top law firm in the 2026 South Shore Community Choice Awards, and Attorney, Matthew B. Lane, was named as the top Attorney in the 2026 South Shore Community Choice Awards.
Personalized Approach: We understand that no two families are the same. That's why we take the time to understand your goals and create a plan that meets your specific needs.
Expert Guidance: Our attorneys stay up-to-date with the latest estate planning laws and strategies, ensuring your plan is as effective as possible.

Contact Us Today

Don’t wait to secure your family’s future. Whether you’re just starting the estate planning process or need to update your existing plan, our experienced team is here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward peace of mind.