Estate Planning

Attorney Fleming does not believe establishing an estate plan has to be stressful or expensive.   Mike has an initial meeting with the client in order to make sure the client likes him. This is essential to best serve the clients needs, as communication between attorney and client is paramount of importance. 

Mike does not ask his clients to complete a questionnaire prior to the meeting, the initial meeting is really designed to have a conversation. During that meeting Mike will explain various estate planning aspects to give the client a foundation of information. Then they will delve into the clients’ situation. Based on the clients’ situations and their goals and objectives Mike will then draft an agreement letter with an estate plan recommendation. 

Mike works on a flat fee for estate plans and he will quote the fee at the end of the meeting. This billing method helps to foster communication as this should be the start of an attorney-client relationship. What separates Mike from other attorneys is Mike will not only establish a relationship with you but also your other professional advisers to make sure we are all “rowing in the same direction.”  Establishing the estate planning documents is not enough as we want to make sure we are utilizing the estate planning documents to their maximum benefit.

Elder Law

A subset of
estate planning

In today’s world the federal estate tax threshold is more than $11,000,000 and the average nursing  home in Massachusetts is about $15,000 monthly. Therefore, it is essential that your estate planning attorney can advise you no matter the size of your estate. This is what makes Mike so unique as he has the knowledge and expertise to advise a client worth millions of dollars as well as a client with no estate tax issues. Since many people today do not have an estate tax concern it is important that your attorney understands federal and Massachusetts laws and regulations governing taxes, MassHealth, trusts, veterans benefits, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and care at home.

Estate Settlement

The process of administering an estate may require going through the probate process, preparing and filing estate tax returns, estate income tax returns, trust income tax returns, selling of a family home and sometimes family disputes.  First and foremost, it involves the loss of a loved one. Mike always puts the human side of working through an estate as his priority. Having the knowledge and expertise to settle the estate is why you pay Mike, having the compassion and negotiating skills is why you refer Mike to other friends and family members.

Business Succession
and Formation Planning

Mike counsels his clients regarding best formation to establish for new business. Mike is unique from other estate planning attorneys as he has extensive tax experience from his six years with the IRS and two years working for a Big 5 accounting firm. Mike also counsels his clients regarding business succession planning.  He has established a niche counseling law firms and family businesses.

Pre-Nuptial Agreements

Mike always maintains that the goal of the couple is to get married and not have a divorce before their wedding. Mike will strongly advocate for his client based on his client's wishes. What separates Mike from other attorneys is it is not enough to sign the pre-nup agreement. A pre-nuptial agreement is a contract. A contract is only as good as the persons’ willingness and ability to enforce the contract. Therefore, Mike will insure that there are procedures, safeguards and policies in place to make sure the agreement is easily enforceable for his client.

Special Needs Trusts

Mike has co-authored and served as a panelist on the topic of Special Needs trust for a National seminar company that educates attorneys, accountants, financial and estate planners, insurance professionals, paralegals and trust officers.

Mike lectures in this highly specialized area of the law and has had his work published by the Massachusetts National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys newsletter. Mass Naela Vol 84 Jan 23, 2007. This was a new planning technique in response to the passing of the Deficit Reduction Act on February 8, 2006.