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Joel A Bernstein
About Joel
Biography
Review: "Joel is a complete pro in the area of estate planning. He covers every issue that needs to be addressed, He's quick, efficient and professional. I very highly recommend him to anyone looking for estate planning."
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Estate Planning
90%
34 years | 2,500 cases
Probate
5%
34 years | 160 cases
Trusts
5%
34 years | 2,100 cases
Fees and Rates
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Massachusetts for 39 years
State: Massachusetts
Acquired: 1986
No misconduct found
Location
MA Wills and Trusts - Joel Bernstein
33 Bedford Street., Suite 13, Lexington, MA, 02420
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Joel A Bernstein's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
66 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Showing 6 - 10 of 14 reviews | Communication Style
Posted by Julia | February 15, 2018 | Estate Planning
Too Expensive for Updates
Joel pulled together an entire package of estate documents and provided excellent documentation. His updates are informative. I was surprised however, to be billed over $1,200 for a one line addendum to a few documents changing a beneficiary.
Joel Bernstein
Replied last February 15, 2018Julia - Thanks for the input. We try to keep costs down by being efficient. We'll work harder in the future based on your input. Joel Bernstein
Posted by Gari | February 15, 2018
An elcellent estate planner.
We have been clients of Joel for more than 15 years and have only good things to say about the services of him and his office. He has proven very knowledgeable and has kept us informed on a continuous basis. In fact, it is time for us to make an appointment to review our situation. Gun and Gari Gat...
Joel Bernstein
Replied last February 15, 2018Gari - Good to hear from you. Hope you are well. Joel
Posted by anonymous | February 14, 2018 | Estate Planning
Unprofessional and too expensive
We made a consultation appointment with Attorney Joel Bernstein to discus creating a trust. I was not told that there was a fee to meet with him when I made the appointment. At the conclusion of the ~ 30 minute appointment, where 1/2 the time was spent discussing some vague scribbles on a white boa...
Joel Bernstein
Replied last February 14, 2018Sorry that you feel the way you've expressed. I am not sure what happened in your case - as it's been our very regular practice (days before a meeting) to write to each person who makes an appointment explaining how we work and why we charge (and what we charge) for the consultation. Sometimes an appointment is made for a date that doesn't allow us enough time to get out the letter - maybe that happened here. Most people like my use of a large whiteboard to illustrate the pros and cons of various types of estate planning - including wills, trust, etc. It sounds like that is not your favored learning style. I apologize if I should have taken a different approach - people usually gain much from it. We do charge for our time - unlike some other attorneys, we take the initial meeting to be an in-depth but relaxed discussion. And by charging we can give an honest, unbiased appraisal of what estate planning you should consider. Joel Bernstein
Posted by Michael | February 14, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning
Will and Trust
Attn Bernstein , whom I did not know prior to our consultation and Hiring was very clear and specific. He responded to my Family's specific trust and will needs. He dealt with us personally and was very upfront on Costs , fees etc. He spent the time needed to get the documents understood and signed...
Joel Bernstein
Replied last February 14, 2018Michael - Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I take communicating the estate planning concepts as well as I can to be my personal challenge and try hard to make it understandable. Again, thanks. Joel Bernstein
Posted by Frederick | February 14, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning
Five Stars: Excellent
I worked closely with Joel for an extended period of time on my elderly parents' estate plan. The plan required a series of amendments to address various changes in their circumstances. He provided timely, practical legal advice on a series of issues and quality work product throughout. He earned ...
Joel Bernstein
Replied last February 14, 2018Frederick - Many thanks for the great review. Yes, we here at the law office of Joel Bernstein have written to clients 2x each year for the last 25 years - to remind people how life can throw us curves and we should act, not react, in general. Again, many thanks - hope you are well. Joel
Joel A Bernstein's Lawyer Endorsements
"An excellent lawyer who treats clients with patience, care, understanding, and utmost professionalism - an even better person and I wholeheartedly recommend for future services."
"What I like about Joel is his intelligence, compassionate personality, and comprehensive systems approach to providing legal services. Joel is good at helping his clients prioritize their goals and understand the various legal estate planning options to best accomplish them. In the past Joel and I have collaborated in reviewing and editing some of each others complex trust document templates. I found Joel to be extremely detail oriented and thorough - he doesn't miss anything. I think his great personality, his technical savvy, and his legal knowledge are a winning combination. Also, he gets his work done in a timely manner, no unnecessary delays. "Estate planning done in three weeks" is his mantra. If my parents lived in Massachusetts I would send them to Joel for their estate planning needs. Joel also handles Estate Administration and the Probate of Estates in a caring sensitive way."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have know Joel for over thirty years. Initially, as an employee and colleague, and subsequently, as a trusted professional to whom I have referred clients with estate planning needs. I have found Joel to be thorough, responsive to client needs and very knowledgeable."
"I have known Joel for more than 5 years as an estate planning attorney and friend. As proof if you will of his quality has an attorney I need only think about the intelligence he brings to his cases and to the deep thinking he gives to the law. As for his ability with clients, it is second to none. He has developed a terrific rapport and a system for working through estate plans and administration that would make anyone feel at home with his practice. I am only glad he is not my one-on-one competitor!"
"Joel is an excellent estate planning lawyer and an expert on trusts. His professorial as well as kind and compassionate manner perfectly suits his area of legal practice. I have and will continue to recommend clients to him with the utmost confidence. Attorney Bernstein is a true professional and always a pleasure to work with."
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Experience
Associations
2013 - Present
Cary Library Professional AdvisersLawyer on Board
1993 - 1996
American Academy of Estate Planning AttorneysOn Board of Governors
1986 - 1989
American Bar AssociationEditor of Real Property Technology
Sample of Legal Cases
Saved $99,000 in taxes
Tax Savings
Education
1989
Boston University School of Law
LL.M - Master of Laws
1981
Vermont Law School - Environmental Law Center
Masters in Law
1979
Western New Englahd School of Law
Juris Doctor
1975
Hobart and Wm. Smith Colleges
BA
Speaking Engagements
2014
Washington Society of CPAs
Income Taxation of Trusts and Estates - Washington State
2014
Mastering the Fundamentals of Estate Planning for CPAs
Estate Planning for CPAs
2014
Massachusetts Society of CPAs
Federal Estate and Gift Tax
2014
Estate and Life Planning
Estate and Life Planning for Middle Class Clients
2014
CPA Fiduciary Income Taxation - Advanced
Fiduciary Income Taxation
2014
CPA Education
Advanced Income Tax for CPAS of CT
2014
Advanced Trusts and Estates Law
Advanced Fiduciary Income Taxation
2013
Basics of Trusts for Lawyers and CPAs
Trusts
2011
Mass. Society of Enrolled Agents
Trusts and Estates: Income Taxation
2000
Charles Schwab Inc. Workshop
Advanced Planning for Retirement Assets
1988
Cambridge MA Entrepreneurs - Guest Speaker
Automation of Law Documents
1987
Co-participant of Video
Automating Real Estate Video for ABA
1986
Mid-Year Annual Meeting
Economics of Computer Driven Real Estate Law
1986
Annual Meeting
Computerized Real Estate Conveyacning
Publications
2015
Loring/Rounds on Trusts
Co-wrote Chapter in Loring on Trusts
1990
Real Estate Computer User Group Newsletter
Editor for American Bar Association
1990
Callaghan's Law Office Economics and Management Journal
Economics of Computerized Real Estate
1987
American Bar Association Probate and Property Journal
Editor for American Bar Association
1987
ABA Probate and Property Journal
A Primer on Computerized Real Estate Conveyancing