When buying a home, it’s not always easy being green
Homebuyers, businesses, and residential and commercial tenants are all showing interest in “green” buildings these days – those designed to save energy, use sustainable materials and have less of an impact on the environment. Many buyers and renters are willing to pay a little more for a green building – especially if they can recoup […]
It’s easier to sue a store for selling liquor to a minor
It’s easier to sue a bar or a store for selling alcohol to a minor, under a recent decision from the Massachusetts Appeals Court. In this case a teenage boy went to a store and bought a 30-pack of beer. He shared it with some friends. One of the friends then drove away and struck […]
Mass. businesses must do more to stop identity theft
Many Massachusetts businesses will have to adopt new procedures to prevent the theft of sensitive customer information, as a result of new state regulations that take effect on May 1. The new rules put Massachusetts in the forefront of protecting consumers’ private data and preventing identity theft. However, they also create many new hurdles for […]
Disabled workers have more rights
Disabled workers in Massachusetts have more rights to request workplace accommodations and to sue for discrimination, as a result of a new federal law. The law amends the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) so that it covers more workers. It applies after January 1, 2009. The original ADA protected people with disabilities, and defined a […]
Congress outlaws genetic discrimination
A company can’t refuse to hire people because they are genetically disposed to develop a particular disease or condition, even if this would cause the company’s health care costs to skyrocket. That’s the result of the federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, which was recently signed into law by President Bush. The law also prohibits insurance […]
Pre-paid funeral plans can be risky business
Many people like the idea of pre-paid funeral plans because they allow funeral services to be locked in at today’s prices, and save family members the trouble of selecting caskets and attending to other matters at a time of great sadness and stress. But if you’re thinking of such a plan, be cautious. After you’ve […]
You can ‘swap’ for property you gave to a trust
Can you put property into a trust, but keep the power to take it back again as long as you substitute other property of equal value? Yes in some cases, according to an IRS ruling. This means you could put real estate, artwork, an insurance policy or other property into a trust, and keep the […]
Do you want to leave someone your mortgage?
If you plan to leave a house, car, business, or other property to one of your heirs, and the property is subject to a mortgage or other debt, do you want o leave it with the debt? Or do you want the debt to be paid off from your other assets so the person receives […]
Trust can’t deduct full cost of investment advice
A trust can’t deduct on its tax return the entire amount it spends for investment advice – at least in most cases, the U.S. Supreme Court has decided. The case involved a trustee who paid $22,000 for investment advice. He tried to deduct this amount from the $625,000 in income the trust reported on its […]
Tax-smart ways to pay for your grandchildren’s education
With the cost of education skyrocketing, many people want to contribute to their grandchildren’s tuition costs. A variety of ways are available to do this, which also have estate-planning benefits. All these ideas apply not just to grandchildren but to grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandchildren and others. The simplest solution is for grandparents to pay the tuition […]
