What Estate and Trust Planning Services Does Hutchings Barsamian Mandelcorn, LLP Offer?
Updated
Hutchings Barsamian Mandelcorn, LLP offers estate and trust planning as a core practice area, alongside advanced estate planning and tax work, estate settlement and probate, and elder law and special needs planning. The firm is based in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, and publishes FAQs on estate planning, estate taxes, living trusts, and planning for incapacity. If you are deciding whether to contact the firm, the practical question is which of these services matches your situation.
The Estate and Trust Planning Practice Area
Estate and trust planning is listed first among the firm's practice areas. In general terms, this kind of work covers how assets are held, who manages them, and who receives them. The firm's own description does not break the practice area into individual documents or deliverables, so the specific instruments used are determined in consultation rather than published on the site.
Advanced Estate Planning and Tax
The firm separates "Advanced Estate Planning and Tax" from its general estate and trust planning practice. That separation suggests the advanced work is aimed at planning situations with tax consequences, such as larger estates or more complex asset structures. The site does not state thresholds, tax figures, or planning techniques, so those details would need to come from a direct conversation with the firm.
Planning for Incapacity
The firm publishes a dedicated FAQ on planning for incapacity. This is the part of estate planning that addresses what happens if you cannot make decisions for yourself, as distinct from what happens after death. Readers who are mainly concerned about decision-making authority during their lifetime should treat this as a separate topic when preparing questions.
Related Services That Often Come Up Together
Estate planning at this firm sits next to several services that address later stages or specific populations:
| Service | What it typically addresses |
|---|---|
| Estate Settlement and Probate | Administering an estate after death, including the probate process |
| Elder Law and Special Needs Planning | Planning for older clients and for individuals with disabilities |
| Business Formation and Business Succession Planning | Starting a business and planning how ownership transfers |
| Commercial and Residential Real Estate | Property transactions that may interact with estate holdings |
The connection between planning and probate matters: a plan made now is carried out through estate settlement later. The firm handles both, which means the same office can be involved at the planning stage and at the administration stage. That continuity is a practical reason some clients choose a firm with both practice areas, though the site does not describe how the two teams coordinate.
How to Use the Firm's Published Resources Before Contacting Them
The firm maintains a Resources section with Helpful Links, Videos, and a set of FAQs. The estate-related FAQs are:
- Estate Planning FAQs
- Estate Taxes FAQs
- Living Trusts FAQs
- Planning for Incapacity FAQs
- Business Law FAQs
These are useful for two purposes. First, they let you check whether your question is already answered in general terms. Second, reading them before a consultation helps you arrive with specific questions instead of general ones. For example, if you are unsure whether a living trust is relevant to your situation, the Living Trusts FAQ is the natural starting point; if your concern is what happens if you become unable to manage your affairs, start with Planning for Incapacity.
Who This Firm's Estate Planning Services Fit
Based on the published practice areas, the firm's estate and trust planning work is likely to suit:
- Massachusetts residents in the Wellesley area who want planning and probate handled by one firm
- People whose planning involves tax considerations and who therefore need the advanced estate planning and tax service
- Families that include an older member or a person with special needs, given the elder law and special needs planning practice
- Business owners who need succession planning connected to their estate plan
The site does not publish fees, engagement terms, or response times, so cost and availability should be confirmed directly. The firm lists a phone number (781.431.2231), a fax number, and a contact form, and its office is at 110 Cedar Street, Suite 250, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.
A Practical Next Step
If you are weighing whether to engage the firm, write down your situation in three parts: what you own, who should make decisions if you cannot, and who should receive what. Then match each part to the practice area above. Bring that list to the contact form or phone call, and ask specifically which of the firm's services applies to each part. That approach turns a general inquiry into a conversation the firm can answer concretely.