Welcome to Old Colony Law
Crafting new estate plans —and modernizing existing ones.
At Old Colony Law, our dedicated attorneys specialize in estate planning services tailored for individuals, married couples, and families across Massachusetts—from the North Shore to the Connecticut River Valley—and into New Hampshire.
With the unique advantage of having a dual-licensed attorney-CPA on our team, we prioritize effective estate tax minimization strategies. We also employ sophisticated planning techniques designed to safeguard inheritances for children, particularly in situations where assets may be at risk due to marital challenges, business ownership or future unknowns.
Beyond mitigating estate taxes and protecting your assets, estate planning with Old Colony Law serves to alleviate burdens on your loved ones, give the full force of law to your personal wishes, streamline the transfer of assets and create a lasting legacy— all while minimizing government intrusion in your affairs. Trust us to navigate the complexities of estate planning with clarity and compassion, so you can focus on what truly matters.
We take a personal approach with each and every client we serve. We’re more than just attorneys; we are true estate planners. We will work one on one with you to understand your unique needs, wishes, concerns and hopes for the future so we can deliver. At Old Colony Law, you’re in good hands.
67% of Americans have no estate plan in place whatsoever
DID YOU KNOW:
* source
Without an estate plan, you forfeit control over who receives your property, wealth and assets after your death—even if you intended otherwise.
Without a comprehensive estate plan, your family may face a longer, more complex court process for asset distribution, while missing critical opportunities to minimize or avoid estate taxes in Massachusetts. Assets like retirement funds, life insurance, and real estate are included in your taxable estate, even if they transfer automatically.
In Massachusetts, not having a will means your assets will be distributed according to state intestate succession laws, which may not reflect your wishes. This can lead to unexpected results, family disputes, tax complications, and a longer, more complicated probate process. This is why adults of any age or asset level can benefit from stipulating their wishes for their assets and care.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU:
We believe that every family needs an estate plan, and we are dedicated to crafting plans that reflect our clients' unique wishes, concerns and circumstances.
At Old Colony Law, we help give peace of mind to individuals, couples, and families throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire by providing comprehensive, customized estate planning services. Our approach is comprehensive, incorporates tax analyses, and involves true estate planning. We take pride in our unique perspective and thorough approach, ensuring that our clients feel confident and supported.
│Our Core Values│
We build relationships with our clients by being responsive and accessible. You will work directly with your attorney. Our commitment to communication fosters a foundation of trust, ensuring that clients feel secure in their decisions and confident in our guidance.
Trust and Integrity
Confidence & Expertise
Because we are a “Massachusetts trusts and estates” law firm and not a “general practice” law firm, our clients can rely on our expertise and experience to navigate the estate planning process, no matter how complex, with assurance.
Professionalism & Support
We maintain the highest standards of service, creating a respectful and supportive environment for our clients. Our dedicated team is committed to understanding each client’s unique needs and offering compassionate assistance throughout the planning process.
Customized Approach
We take pride in our distinctive approach to estate planning, crafting personalized solutions that reflect each client’s individual circumstances, wishes and concerns. Our comprehensive services ensure that every aspect of a client’s estate plan is addressed thoughtfully.
Our Approach
Old Colony Law attorneys provide estate planning legal services to individuals, married couples, and families throughout Massachusetts, from the North Shore to the Connecticut River Valley. We also serve New Hampshire.
With the added value of a dual-licensed attorney-CPA on our team, we emphasize estate tax minimization planning. We incorporate sophisticated techniques to preserve inheritances for children when assets may be particularly vulnerable due to marital issues, business ownership, immaturity or future unknowns.
In addition to minimizing estate taxes and protecting assets, estate planning with Old Colony Law helps ease burdens on loved ones, preserve inheritances, leave a legacy, and minimize government intrusion.
Our Process
Old Colony Law takes a modern approach to estate planning by crafting comprehensive and customized estate plans instead of simply producing documents. Your assets, family, and final wishes are too important to be treated as mere paperwork.
Consultation: Our process begins with a consultation to understand your goals and concerns. We learn about your family, assets, and unique circumstances to provide options tailored to your needs.
Review: In our second meeting, we ensure that your estate plan reflects your wishes and addresses your specific concerns. We believe you should understand how your estate plan works.
Plan Implementation: We hold a final meeting to sign your new estate planning documents. Unlike many other attorneys, our work doesn’t end here. We work with you, your financial advisor and and accountant to ensure your estate plan functions as intended, thereby preventing unnecessary taxes or complications for your family.
“Thank you for all the help and professional guidance as we mapped out our estate and will planning! You’re both rather exceptional and made the entire process easy and clear to understand, and completely painless!”
– Young married couple in Easthampton
ESTATE PLANNING & ASSET PROTECTION
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A TEAM YOU CAN TRUST
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ESTATE PLANNING & ASSET PROTECTION - A TEAM YOU CAN TRUST -
Meet Our Team
Claire grew up along the picturesque Connecticut shoreline before attending the University of New Hampshire School of Law. Her journey into estate planning began while working at a small, family-owned law firm during her studies, an experience that ignited her interest in the field of trusts and estates. It was here she also discovered her passion for serving and supporting elderly and disabled individuals.
With a diverse background as a public interest attorney and disability benefits advocate, Claire brings a wealth of experience to Old Colony Law. Here, she focuses on trust planning for clients with vulnerable beneficiaries, offering compassionate guidance to those receiving need-based benefits, navigating substance abuse challenges or behavioral addictions, and those in unstable marriages or unhealthy relationships.
In addition to her work at Old Colony Law, Claire serves on the board of the Pioneer Valley Estate Planning Council and is licensed to practice law in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Outside of her professional life, you can often find her running along the scenic Norwottuck Branch Rail Trail, embracing the beauty of the outdoors.
Claire Crowley, Attorney
Ben is a dual-licensed attorney and CPA who focuses his practice on trust law and estate planning, with emphasis on estate tax minimization and asset protection.
He earned his law degree from the University of New Hampshire School of Law and has previously worked with a large Northern New England law firm, representing Fortune 500 companies and trade associations. His extensive experience also includes collaborating with nonprofit organizations to resolve financial compliance issues and conduct financial investigations.
Ben’s philosophy is that estate planning is a part of one’s privacy rights and property rights. Accordingly, he enjoys taking the extra effort, sometimes getting creative, to ensure that his clients’ estate planning documents are customized to their situation and wishes; are set up to avoid taxes, probate and other government intrusions into personal affairs; and have the full force of law.
As a CPA and former tax lobbyist, Ben also knows all too well the importance of having an estate plan with sufficient flexibility to adapt to an extremely fluid estate tax and political environment, but with the necessary precision to ensure that a plan holds up against against inquiries by tax regulators.
Ben Palkowski, Attorney, CPA
Get in Touch
Ready to take the first step in securing your family's future? Contact us today to schedule your consultation!