Estates or businesses often seek an attorney in dealing with probate and business matters in Massachusetts. Probate issues can pose unique challenges to families, heirs and businesses after a business owner or shareholder passes away. You may be wondering…

• Do you continue the business's operations? If so, then how?
• Should you sell?
• Do you close immediately or wind down the business?

Questions like these often lead to business owners, families, and others to seek an attorney's guidance in understanding their obligations, rights, and responsibilities.

Inheriting a Business

Estates, trusts, beneficiaries, and heirs may inherit legal interests or partial ownership interests in ongoing businesses or ventures. These may range anywhere from the decedent having been a passive investor to being a controlling member. You need to determine options and implement a plan to secure your rights while advancing your goals. Whether you have been a part of the family business from the start or are just learning about your business ownership interest, it's is important to take timely steps to protect your rights and interests.

Communications and Negotiations

As a business or individual it would be wise to seek the assistance of an attorney experienced in communicating and dealing with a decedent's estate, business, or either's lawyers. These delicate matters often require the ability to objectively balance various competing interests against protecting rights through zealous advocacy in court. As an interested party, you should certainly be involved in every ultimate decision, but you may find it most helpful to have a non-party attorney negotiate these dynamic demands. Often in these cases, working with an attorney may help avoid costly and time consuming disputes from developing between interested parties.

Estate and Business Trial Attorneys

If or when matters do become adversarial, then our trial lawyers are prepared to pursue your rights and to defend your interests. Whether your case ends up in probate court, district court, superior court, or elsewhere, our lawyers have the breadth and experience to meet your needs. You need to consider that litigation and lawsuits can arise. Don't let emotions or rash judgments rule or detract from your goals. A wrong step at the wrong time could lead to bad outcomes or create liabilities.

Areas of business law with probate or estate representation matters include: